Just a reminder to all that we are not open tomorrow, Anzac Day, out of respect to our diggers – past and present. We will re-open on Monday, 27th April 2009 at 9:00am.

Since Gavin’s son, Michael, joined the army about three years ago, Anzac Day has taken on a whole new meaning for us.

After training for only a year, he was deployed to East Timor on peacekeeping duties for about six months. We were, of course, very worried about him – to us it seemed way too soon to be shipped off overseas with real guns! As he reminded us, this is what he joined the army to do – to serve and protect Australia, and make the world a better place to live – and he had trained very hard to earn the privilege to go.

Since returning to Australia, he has undertaken many courses and his training regime has really stepped up a notch. And with good reason. We have just received official confirmation that his Company will be a part of the next Force Protection Combat Team to be deployed to southern Afghanistan within the next few months.

We are so very proud of Michael and his choice to serve with the Australian Defence Force. Like all military families we will worry about him every day he is away from Australian soil and pray for his, and his mates, safe return.

I know many of you will be attending tomorrow mornings Dawn Service in your local area. If you want to know more about the history of the Dawn Service, I found this story on the ADF website that I’d like to share with you:

http://www.army.gov.au/history/Historyofdawnsvc.htm

Take a moment to remember our ANZAC heroes…

“As the sun rises and goeth down, we will remember them”

LEST WE FORGET

Michael caught this longtail off Bribie Island a few years ago.