Anzac Day 2022: Record crowd attend dawn service at site of Medowie's new war memorial

Hues and pink and purple began lighting up the early morning sky as veterans, school children, emergency service personal and other members of the community marched from the carpark of the Bull N Bush, right down Medowie Road and to the new war memorial at Medowie Social.

A crowd of more than 2000 people gathered on the lawn and in the carpark of Medowie Social as the service got underway, beginning with a welcome from Medowie RSL Sub-Branch president Ian Harding and Father Chris Yates consecrating the new memorial.

"Anzac Day 2022 is the biggest we've seen in Medowie with an estimated crowd in excess of 2000," RSL sub-branch vice president Peter Stephenson said.

"Medowie Social [was] packed to the gunwales with people enjoying the camaraderie and friendship of the day."

Medowie resident and Port Stephens councillor Chris Doohan, a former RAAF member who now works in the aerospace industry, gave the opening address, speaking about the town's clear and proud Defence ties.

In delivering the benediction, Fr Yates spoke about peace, saying peace is not the absence of violence but "something that has to be maintained, fought for and even die for".

Medowie RSL Sub-Branch member Steve Withey, who was an Air Force military working dog handler for more than 20 years, gave the address on Monday morning.

ANZAC DAY 2022 IN PORT STEPHENS:

Fittingly, Mr Withey spoke about the service and sacrifice of the "unsung animals of war" as a flock of black cockatoos flew noisily over the crowd.

"A lot of people don't know what the purple poppy signifies. It signifies all animals that were lost in war and that are still serving today," he said.

"Throughout history animals have demonstrated astonishing companionship with humans, at times compromising their own safety to save a person's life."

Mr Withey highlighted stories of animals that have been commended for their service in theatres of war throughout the years.

This included the now legendary story of WWI soldier John Simpson Kirkpatrick and his donkey, who are perhaps best known simply as Simpson and his donkey.

Private Simpson rescued wounded men on Gallipoli with a desert donkey, which went by a number of names including Murphy, Abdul and Duffy.

"The two trotted across the frontline exposed to gunfire and unarmed. On this small donkey, Simpson ferried dozens of wounded soldiers down the beach. According to legend, Simpson and his donkey saved 300 men at Gallipoli. The donkey was later on awarded the Purple Cross for Heroism."

Mr Withey also spoke of the little known animal heroes of war - carrier pigeons - and dogs being used in more recent conflicts.

The service ended with the Last Post, the national anthems of New Zealand and Australia and wreath laying, which was undertaken while Medowie's own Jared Ashpole played the bagpipes.

Attendees with images of loved ones who fought and died in war were hung inside Medowie Social.

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