TO capture the spirit of ANZAC Day in a few hundred words is a difficult thing to do.

So much about 25 Apri stems from a century of history and the men and women who work tirelessly to ensure the commemoration continues for the next hundred years.

Like so many cities and towns across Australia, the Myall community came together at Tea Gardens last Tuesday to pay tribute to the ANZAC legend, born 102 years ago.

On the banks of the Myall, they gathered at dawn for the first of many ceremonies to mark Gallipoli and all the conflicts that followed.

Later, the thinning ranks of World War II veterans marched proudly along Marine Drive, watched on and applauded by hundreds of well wishes.

RSL President Michael Farrar guided the crowd through the ANZAC traditions.

Songs of thanks were sung and tales of long-ago conflicts were brought to life again.

Rear Admiral Tony Horton reflected on his 43 years of service in the Royal Australian Navy and the Navy’s role in the Gallipoli campaign.

“People are still very responsible in the sense of keeping in touch with what’s going on with ANZAC Day,” Rear Admiral Horton told News Of The Area.

Dozens of wreaths were laid, and a moving rendition of the ‘Last Post’ brought the service to a close.

Then it was off to the Tea Gardens Country Club for lunch, a few beers and traditional two up.

93-year-old Ted Mowbray spoke to News Of The Area about his wartime service, posted to Mt Gambier to train pilots in the Royal Australian Air Force.

“We trained them for five weeks and in that time they did a lot of low flying, sometimes just 10 feet above the ground or the sea.”

“We just scraped along, lifting over the waves.”

“I came out of the sea at 50 feet, looking to see where land was and suddenly right beside me was the Mt Gambier Town Hall Clock, so I wheeled around and knew where the strip was.”

“We lost seven,” he said with sadness.

More than 70 years on, Ted’s wartime memories were as vivid and as lasting as his love for his country.

By Margie TIERNEY