00:08A crisp and quiet Anzac morning in the Red Centre, as Territorians reflected on the wartime history of the place.
00:15The fact that Alice Springs has such a long military history, especially during World War II.
00:19We were the largest military establishment in the entire country during World War II.
00:24And it's very important to remember that history.
00:27And its people.
00:28This morning, my little fella Atticus here is wearing my grandfather's medals from World War II.
00:33He served on HMAS Arunta, which comes from the Arunda people here in Alice Springs.
00:39After the dawn service, a march up to Anzac Hill, where crowds gathered framed by the McDonnell Rangers.
00:45My father fought in the Second World War in the Northern Territories, so Darwin and Papua New Guinea.
00:51So to be here, to remember him and my other family members, and even people that aren't my family members,
00:57what they gave and what they sacrificed for me to be standing here today.
01:01For me, it means that we remember all those people that suffered and died for us, so then we can
01:07be free here.
01:21In the top end, the dawn service was followed by a street parade of nearly 2,000 people, from Naval,
01:28Army and Air Force troops to local residents and community groups.
01:31The beginning of the march, I stood up straight. I put my shoulders back and I stepped off and kept
01:38in time, and I did that so that I could become a young soldier again, just for that moment.
01:44Those posted to Darwin from abroad also soaking up the atmosphere of the garrison town.
01:49As the march started, I just got goosebumps instantly, just because you could feel the history and just like the
01:55energy of the people that have come before us.
01:59While today's ceremonies provided an opportunity to collectively reflect upon our military history, many were also reflecting on the lives
02:06of individual friends and family.
02:08Well, two years ago I didn't do the march because three of my best friends had passed away in that
02:14year. They were all veterans and they passed in circumstances that we don't like to pass. They had PTSD.
02:23I always reflect on serving members that I have served with on operations that are no longer with us today.
02:30They are always in the front of my mind on an Anzac day.
02:33A day to reflect with collective grief and gratitude.
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