Town of Albany in Western Australia commemorates significant day

The town of Albany on Western Australia’s south coast holds a special significance to the Anzac story.

Transcript

00:00For many of the Anzacs who didn't return, the Albany Coast would have been the last

00:06Australian coastline that they saw before heading over to the Middle East.

00:10A decision was made in October 1914 to utilise King George Sound and that meant dozens of

00:16warships and thousands of troops were stationed here before heading over to the Middle East.

00:21And it's that connection that continues to draw crowds from all over the country here

00:25for Anzac Day events. Among them were the crew from HMAS Toowoomba who were here for a few

00:33days. Among them a local man who spoke of how special it was to share the occasion with

00:38his shipmates. Albany also has a long connection to the dawn service. Padre Arthur Ernest White

00:45held one of the first Australian dawn services after coming back from the fighting. He wanted

00:51to ensure that those who lost their lives weren't forgotten and that continues to be a central

00:55message of the dawn service that happened right across Australia today. Behind me you can see

01:00the National Anzac Centre and that really highlights the continued connection this small town in

01:05W.A. has to the Anzacs in this story.