Gusty weather did not deter the sizeable crowd that gathered on ANZAC Day at the Lakes Entrance Cenotaph to honour and remember all Australian service men and women who served their country and came home, were wounded or gave their lives in the line of duty, according RSL publicity officer Robyn Cooney.
Commander Sue Bingham (retired), of the Royal Australian Navy, announced the arrival of the Catafalque Party from RAAF Base Sale. The four young pilots, currently training to fly the much-touted Black Hawk helicopter marched into position with marked precision. 
A catafalque party is traditionally a guard of four that watches over the coffins of important people. In Australia it serves to honour the fallen at the ANZAC Day ceremony.
Sue welcomed her audience with a poignant message setting the tone for ANZAC Day 2024. 
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him," she said.
The priceless gift of freedom, loved ones and a supportive community was a theme to be repeated frequently throughout the service. Sue went on to remind the gathering that ANZAC Day is a time "to honour the fallen, cheer the survivors and celebrate the peace".

IMAGE: The Ivanczuk family - Sonja, Russell, Allan, Elena, Theodore, Kristina, Dominic, Stephen and Leonard - attended the ANZAC Day service at Lakes Entrance last Thursday. The annual dawn and mid-morning service were well-attended by young and old once again, hundreds converging on the Marine Parade cenotaph to show their appreciation and respect for servicemen and women past and present.