A day to remember.

Another early start for us and this time it wasn’t Kayla, instead Hamish woke up at 5:15am so we decided that we should get up and go to the dawn service which was at 5:45am.  Our theory was that we would attend the dawn service and then go to the 24 hour McDonalds for breakfast.  Well our plans were dashed from the start when we went and parked at the McDonalds (as it was right near the dawn service) and it wasn’t open.  I am thinking we might need to explain to them the definition of 24 hours, or either that they need to change their sign.

The dawn service was really good and for the first time it was explained as to the significance of the dawn service and why we should carry on the tradition.  Obviously today makes you realise what these men and women did so we have the life we have today, but how slack we are really that we all can’t get out of bed early one day of a year to remember them when they did it daily to defend our existence.  We are guilty to; I think this was only my third dawn service.  Afterwards it was announced that the RSL was doing breakfast, so we thought we would head down there since our McDonalds option was a no go.

Hamish got a bit over lining up for the meal so went out to the outside playground to play whilst we lined up.  Unfortunately he obviously needed to go to the toilet whilst out there and proceeded to pull down his pants and go in the garden in full view of the dining area (though his back was to us all).  Jason tried to run out and stop it but was too late.  At least we didn’t get kicked out and the gentlemen behind us got a good laugh out of our embarrassment.  After that we did manage to get our cooked breakfast and sit down and enjoy it.  We chatted to what we thought were locals on our table but discovered they were in town as it was a special ceremony today for the nurses and two of them were writing a book on their Aunty who was a nurse in Egypt.

A home devestated by the tornado.

From here we decided to head back to Mulwala and Yarrawonga to attend their ANZAC march.  It was actually quite sad as to how small the Mulwala parade was.  The vintage cars just zipped past and you could have been forgiven for not realising it had started.  I felt for all the old servicemen as they didn’t get a chance to be thanked and celebrated.  Maybe I am unfairly comparing it to the Brisbane March where everyone goes by slowly and the crowd is constantly clapping and waving flags.

Start of the parade.

 

So proud of what they did for us.

 

We owe them so much.

 

 

We then decided to check out the rest of the towns.  One thing we have noticed is that New South Wales really seems to keep the river to themselves in the sense of private properties and not a lot of parks on the edge.  Whereas Victoria seems to make the river/waterfront all about the people and yes the rich can have their water views from across the road or just back a bit.  They also seem to embrace the idea that everyone should be able to access it and enjoy the mighty river.

The thin strip of a park NSW offers.

 

Views over the lack back to Victoria.

 

View of the lack more NSW side.

 

For lunch we returned to our van and then just spent a lazy afternoon back here napping and watching Hamish play on the jumping pillow.  I think the reality is starting to hit us that the holiday is winding up and we are going to have to head home soon.  At least Jason managed to find a shower tonight with hot water and good pressure.  Oh and I am sad to report that Kayla’s tooth disappeared back into her gum.  How depressing that we are going to have to go through all of that again!