Dawn Services marking Anzac Daywere staged at various locations throughoutthe country.
Duringthe service Prime Minister Peter O’Neill relayed thatthe ANZAC’s will always remain a part of Papua New Guinea
“The people andthe Government of Papua New Guineadeeply appreciatethe sacrifice and services of many thousands of young Australian men on our land and waters some seventy years ago”.
Australia’s Governor General spoke aboutthe hardships faced bythe soldiers.
Amongst those who paidtheir respects, we found 75 year old Errol Clark at his fther’s grave. Accompanlied by his wife it’s been a lifelong dream to visit his fther’s grave. Coming from New South Wales his trip was made possible through private sponsors.
His fther Walter Allan Clark dlied in Kokoda aged 30 in 1942.
“Because dad would have been a hundred years old last year I couldn’t come. We associated with some walkers that are out onthe track now – Tamaramba Walkers which is sponsored bythe Rotary Club”.
Errol was four years old when his fther dlied but he still has fond memories of him.
“I still remember him. I was four years old and I remember him coming home in uniform and we were so proud of him and he put a lot of time with us while he was home, and yeah we lover dad”.
Just meters away lay his uncle. A high ranking corporal, he dlied inthe same year.
Anzac Daycommemoration was part ofthe travel itinerary for the lads of St Ignatius College in River view N.S.W. They just finished walkingthe Kokoda track.
This isthe fourth visit for the college;they usually makethe trip biannually. They don’t just walkthe trackthey also under take some community work.
More than eight thousand Australia’s dlied in PNG duringWorld war two. Their remains lie in our war cemeteries.
Meredith Kuusa, National EMTV News
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