John Skinner is the President of the Warwick RSL sub branch and my request was to send me his week leading up to ANZAC Day yesterday. This description is enacted across the nation through RSL Sub-Branches personnel leading up to ANZAC Day.
"My week started on Monday, April 18 with an ANZAC service at The Oaks nursing home in Warwick – I do the address there.
Tuesday, Akooramak nursing home also in Warwick, I try to do the same address.
Wednesday, I opened the RSL Sub-branch office at 10am and try to sort out any problems people have and last minute changes, also make sure all the programs have been sent to where they are needed and a thousand other little jobs.
Lunch and then off to the Council Chambers to liaise with SES, Ambulance and Police (and then found out my son had purchased six young ewes for me at the sheep sale) – home after the business is done, put the crate on the ute, drive back to town (it's a 20 minute trip), load the unwilling little sods, bring them home, treat them with a quarantine drench and lock them in the yards overnight.
Thursday is a free day, all I have to do is write my school speeches and speeches for some of my 'boys' who are speaking at other schools on Friday.
Friday
Friday, April 22, the last day of school before ANZAC Day and everyone wanted their school ANZAC service today.
I started at 5.30am when Scots-PGC College in Warwick held their dawn service – we had breakfast with the students – then off to Warwick West State School, the largest primary school in town and where my grandson is school captain for a 9am service. An excellent time, taking over an hour and involving many students.
Another quick coffee then off to the Warwick Christian College for an 11am service. Although I had to give an address, the students ran the whole program and it too was excellent.
I had a bite to eat at the Warwick Saleyards where there was a horse sale – no, I didn't buy or sell – then it was a 40 minute drive to Maryvale, a small hamlet east of Warwick towards Cunningham's Gap, where we held a service in the park for the students of a small school there which was supported by a group of community members and parents numbering over 30.
The local progress association shouted us sandwiches and free drinks at the historic hotel over the road (how many cokes can a man drink?) and the sandwiches were egg and lettuce – great!
Following the College dawn service, my 'boys' and one or two of the 'girls' all head in different directions and altogether, we take part in ANZAC services at every school in our area (14 in all).
Saturday we sponsor the annual ANZAC Cup at the AFL game – I'm to give another address aimed at the footballers and their fans.
Sunday, I'm speaking at the Warwick Baptist Church, doing an ANZAC address again.
ANZAC DAY Monday 25 April
Monday ANZAC Day my day starts with a dawn service (5am) at the Warwick Cenotaph which I am MC, then the gunfire breakfast at the local RSL Club. 8.15am. A service at the Warwick War Graves, MC again with some introductions and prayers. 9am, Eden Gardens Lawn Cemetery ANZAC Service, just a few lines at this one explaining what The Last Post and Reveille bugle tunes mean.
10.30am it's form-up time for the parade which I arrange before rushing off to a dais outside the Town Hall where I'm with the Mayor and the Reviewing Officer for the ANZAC Day Parade which usually includes all Warwick schools and several from the surrounding districts – usually between 600 and 1,000 kids, amazing.
I have a small part to play in the service which takes about 40 minutes and then back to the RSL for the ANZAC Luncheon – again I am MC – then arrange for those organising the Two-Up to set up and I try to escape as quickly as I can."
Across the nation
Moreover this is repeated all over the country by our RSL Sub-Branch volunteers, and little wonder ANZAC plays such a central focus in the nation's psyche. In most of these services where available Christian Ministers play a role as in every conflict the deeply appreciative Christian chaplains have been embedded.
The late Patsy Adam-Smith in her acclaimed book "The ANZACS" has a chapter on the Padres where she recounts one military chaplain on Gallipoli saying: "War, I know what war's about – writing letter to wives and mothers and girl friends and fathers and families ..."
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html