Pakenham RSL president Ray Caldwell and secretary Thelma Rhein pay their respects to soldiers lost.
By Melissa Meehan
THE Pakenham Racecourse proved a perfect alternate venue for the Anzac Day Dawn Service this year as hundreds gathered to pay their respects to lives lost in battle.
A flagpole was used in place of the cenotaph for those who wished to lay wreaths, and the roof proved a positive with thin drizzle continuing during the service.
The young and old set their alarms early and put on their warm clothes, gloves and beanies before joining diggers for a Gunfire Breakfast.
Those who attended were greeted at the Racecourse entrance by SES volunteers who guided them to car parks before handing out poppies.
RSL president and MC for the day Ray Caldwell said he was humbled by the number of people who made the choice to head to the racecourse in the early hours of the morning.
He said being MC was a little sad, as he had to step in for friend and RSL member Ray Caldwell who was forced to pull out due to illness.
Halfway through the service, attendees were invited to join the RSL for a Gunfire Breakfast – after which many left, leaving guest speakers mayor Graeme Legge, councillor Collin Ross and MP Edward O’Donohue to address a depleted crowd.
