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PNG joins Australia & New Zealand in remembering fallen war heroes
MONDAY APRIL, 25th, was a day observed in silence and respected by many Papua New Guineans and their Australian and New Zealand counterparts here in Port Moresby.
A large crowd attended the dawn service at the Bomana War Cemetery, just 15 minutes drive out of Port Moresby. It was here that they laid to rest over 3,000 Anzac soldiers who bravely fought off their opponents to win the WWII campaign in 1942.
It was also here on Monday morning that over 1,000 Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealand alike gathered to commemorate the fallen soldiers during the dawn service.
The Bomana War Cemetery…where the Anzac Day dawn service took place
Bomana_Cemetery.jpgDuring the service, the soldiers stood in silence and paid their respect each deep in their own thought. The moments of silence was accompanied by a hymn of lament ?The flowers of the Forest? played by lone servicemen on bag pipes.
This was followed by the three national anthems of PNG, Australia and New Zealand which was played consecutively by the police brass band.
Among those who attended were five Australian veterans of New Guinea campaign including Bob Thompson who fought along Kokoda Trail.
Each man fought back his own tears at this moving ceremony as they reminisce together what have been WWII 60 years back.
"The people I've met here, they've just inspired me, they've almost bought me to tears at times," Mr. Thompson said.
?Without them there would not have been a campaign because we would not have been able to do it. They were just fantastic,? Mr. Bert Fry, an 82-year old Kokoda Australian WWII veteran said.
A lone cross at Bomana…The Cross of Sacrifice…
Cross_of_Sacrifice.jpgThe Anzac Day ceremony concluded with a Gunfire breakfast at the Australian High Commission.
Within the nation?s capital, the country observed its 24th Remembrance Day (also known as the National Day) to remember many who died during WWII.
This has come following the decision by the National Government to move the annual Memorial Day commemorations from July to coincide with the Anzac Day.
At this ceremony, retired servicemen joined members of disciplinary forces in Port Moresby to remember their fallen comrades and others who fought during WWII. Hundreds turned up yesterday, both young and old for the laying of wreaths and the parade.
When giving his speech Parliament Speaker Jeffrey Nape challenged those who witnessed the ceremony to remember the sacrifice that the servicemen and women gave and to contribute to build the nation.
Opposition Leader Peter O?Neill has lauded the idea of PNG merging its National Day with Anzac Day as being symbolic. ?I welcome that the links we as Papua New Guineans have with Australia and New Zealand (as being) of great importance,? Mr O?Neill said in his National Day message.
Monday, April 25, will always bring about a time of reflection, of respect and honor for many who fought and died during WWII.
It was a day remembered and will be for a long, long time.
Our Anzac Day Trekkers who attended Bomana included over 40 PNG National Porters & Guides of Kokoda Trekking together with our international trekkers made up as follows:
Anthony Alliston; Paul Alliston; Jonathan Alliston; Peter Hodgson; Michael Crozier; John Domandl; Brenton Fielke; David McCormick; Anthony Shakeshaft; Gregory Tighe; Daniel Smith; Edwin (Ted) Anderson; Stewart Clark; David Tape; Jason Peters; Brian Whitehouse; Peter Elliot; Darin Bell; KevinBell; Grant Bell; Michael Cook; Peter Hesse; Peter Fraser; David Fraser; Scott Levy; Adam Long; Lindsay Kelly; Leon Lincoln; Michael Lincoln; Craig Farrant; Stuart Small; Murray Farrant; Michael Pesle; Mark Appleton; Lora Brown; Ben O'Donnel; William Tooher; John O'Donnel; Adam Clarke; Vasco Soyanov; Anita Watson; Troy Watson; Catherine Thomas; Darren Nicholson; James Kaminski; Colin Petrie; Lynda Shaw; Steve Lloyd; Raymond Noel Mitchell; Ben Mitchell; Dean Mitchell; Craig Armstrong; Martin O'Malley; Millie Plowman; Dave Sutton; James Dyer; Nicole Henderson; Miles Flanagan; Brett McKinnis; Gill Dear; Anna Dear; Ian Dear; Simon Foxall; Bill Foxall; Amy Livingstone-Foggo; Walter Kelly; Steve Jones; Peter Dalziel; Scott Dalziel; Neil Walker; Hayley Tomlinson; Paul Turner; Christine Bowen; Anne-Marie Delahunty; Andrew Charlton; Brett Ireland; Shannon Hewett; Jamie Mackerill; Stephen Kennedy; Matt Kennedy; Wayne Havenaar; John Walton; Amanda Ashwin; Steve Sleswick; Cameron Brown; Bob Robertson; Dan Towler; Michael Sztachanski; Ken Toombs; Alissa Crossley; Daniel Livingston; Paul Brown; Montana Raggett; Lynne Gilbert; Norman Johnston; Bryan Johnston; Anthony Johnston; Richard Johnston; Scott Lowe; KeithGreenwood; Jim Mortimer; Douglas Denby; Jonathan Denby; Garry Rothwell; Peter Donohoe; John Wilson; Mark Barclay & Gary Cheney
Plus all of our team including Management, Guides & Porters from Kokoda Trekking Ltd
Trekkers in Group 51-A; 51B & 51C seen here at Isurava Battlesite area on the 23rd April, 2005 before heading down into Kokoda for a night at Russell Eroro's Family block. They all flew back into Port Moresby on the 24th to overnight before attending the Bomana War Cemetery Dawn Service:
Anzac_Group_at_Isurava.jpgKokoda Trekking Limited, had over 150 attend the Bomana War Cemetery Dawn Service. The group comprised of 108 members from our Anzac Day trek including 40 porters and guides, Management & Staff.
Eight groups headed out for the trek commencing April 16th and combined together after trek to attend the dawn service here in Port Moresby.
Photograph – 51-A:
Jason Peters; Brian Whitehouse; Peter Elliot; Darin Bell; Kevin Bell; Grant Bell; Michael Cook; Peter Hesse; Peter Fraser; David Fraser; Adam Long; Lindsay Kelly; Leon Lincoln; Michael Lincoln; Craig Farrant; Stuart Small; Murray Farrant; Michael Pesle; Mark Appleton & Scott Levy
Picture_075.jpgAt Isurava Battlesite Area we had the following trekkers present:
Derek James Brown; Jeff Head; Mark Dungey; Rosemary Dungey; Colin Brown; Warren Turner; Phillip Turner; Patrick Turner; Steven Percival; Haydn Fletcher; Sue Scott; Louise Peach & Damian Ward
Plus 19 porters and guides from Kokoda Trekking Ltd
Photograph – group of our porters and guides along with Walter Kelly an 81 year old veteran – Ex 338 Radar Raaf SWPA Area – Long Island 1943 – NO 57045 – who attended Bomana War Cemetery on Anzac Day 2005:
All of us here at Kokoda Trekking are just so proud to be associated with this gentleman and to enable his wish to come true, ie to walk the Kokoda Trail. I have heard from his daughter today that her dad is home safely again and trying to plan his next adventure whatever that maybe.
Picture_006.jpgGroup Pic of Trek 55-B at Brigade Hill:
Trekkers:
John Walton; his sister Amanda Ashwin; Stee Sleswick; Cameron Brown; Bob Robertson; Dan Towler; Michael Sztachanski; Ken Toombs (trek a pressie from his wife); Alissa Crossley & Daniel Livingston.
Group_Pic_at_Brigade_Hill.jpgThe first group to leave Port Moresby was a group who became known as the ''Triathlete' Trekkers' – or Hodgson Heroes.
The group included:
Anthony Alliston; Paul Alliston; Jonathan Alliston; Peter Hodgson; Michael Crozier; John Domandl; Brenton Fielke; David McCormick; Anthony Shakeshaft; Gregory Tighe; Daniel Smith; Ryan Vesper; Edwin (Ted) Anderson; Stewart Clark; David Tape:
Picture_008.jpgTheir three guides, Eric, Landy & Isaac:
Eric__Landy___Isaac.jpgGroup 55-A seen here on the Kokoda Trail:
The Group included:
Peter Dalziel; Scott Dalziel; Neil Walker; Hayley Tomlinson; Paul Turner; Christine Bowen; Anne-Marie Delahunty; Andrew Charlton; Brett Ireland; Shannon Hewett; Jamie Mackerill; Stephen Kennedy; Matt Kennedy & Wayne Havenaar.
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