DAWN SERVICE IN MUMBAI
Please come and join us for a Dawn Service at the Willingdon Club to commemorate ANZAC Day 2012.
For those who do not know what the day means to Australians and New Zealanders: ANZAC Day stands for “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps” and it is a day of remembrance for our families and our fellow countrymen who perished in foreign lands, fighting for world peace. Almost all of us were touched in some way by loss of life of our fathers, grandfathers or uncles during WWI, WWII and in subsequent battles.
This Day of Remembrance is specifically marked to commemorate the first major military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli during the Ottoman Empire in World War I; however after the 2nd World War the commemorations have evolved to include all battles where Australians and New Zealanders have fought and died, in foreign lands, for our freedom.
ANZAC Day is commemorated at Dawn on 25 April every year at Gallipoli, and at War Memorials, big and small, in Australia and New Zealand. All ANZAC Day commemorations feature a solemn and reflective “Dawn Service”, accompanied by thoughts of those lost at war to the ceremonial sounds of The Last Post on the bugle. The fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon’s poem “For the Fallen” (Known as the “Ode of Remembrance”) is often recited.
In both Australia and New Zealand, you will find war memorials in many small and large towns erected to those who lost their lives commemorating ANZAC Day as it touched so many of us.
Following is a poem on one such memorial by Mr Rudyard Kipling:
From little towns in a far land we came,
To save our honour and a world aflame.
By little towns in a far land we sleep;
And trust that world we won for you to keep.
ANZAC Day 2012 will be commemorated in Mumbai at 5:45am on Wednesday 25 April 2012 at The Cabbage Patch, The Willingdon Sports Club, K.Khadye Marg (opposite the racecourse at Mahalaxmi). All Australians, New Zealanders and our friends are welcome!
The service will include a wreath laying and conclude with a gunfire breakfast. Those attending are invited to wear medals.
ANZAC Day is a very special day for Australians and Kiwis, and is even more special when we are away from home so please do make the effort to get up early and to bring the kids as it is one of the experiences they will remember fondly of India! The service is open to New Zealanders, Australians and friends, and should be all finished by 7:30am so there is still time to get to work or school before the traffic builds up.
ANZAC biscuits and poppies will be available!
As this event is being catered for, the organisers need to know before 20 April 2012 if you are attending, so kindly RSVP Karishma at the New Zealand Consulate General as per the details below.
Event: ANZAC Day 2012 Mumbai
Date & Time: Wednesday 25th April 2012 at 5:45 am (for a 6am start)
Place: The Cabbage Patch, Willingdon Sports Club, K.Khadye Marg (opp the racecourse at Mahalaxmi)
RSVP: Karishma, NZ Consulate General office, ph 022 6131 6666 or email [email protected] before 20 April 2012.