Fed: GG urges calm on terror as Australia honours Anzacs

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2007
Fed: GG urges calm on terror as Australia honours Anzacs

Large crowds have attended dawn services in cities and towns around Australia to honour
the sacrifice of the Anzacs 92 years ago .. and those who've followed them.

In Brisbane .. Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has urged people to visit foreign battlefields
where Australians have fought and died.

He says more than 100 thousand troops have died in battle for our country .. displaying
the values of courage .. mateship .. larrikinism and discipline.

And Mr HOWARD predicts Anzac Day will become more hallowed as the years roll by.

Flags have flown at half mast in Melbourne .. where the crowd huddled in semi-darkness
at the Shrine of Remembrance .. some wearing service medals.

Others crouched with their heads in their hands as they paused to remember the Australian
legend which emerged from the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

At Canberra's dawn service at the Australian War Memorial .. rain that had held off
suddenly began falling .. just as the first notes of the Last Post rang out.

At Adelaide's dawn service .. Anzac Day Committee chairman BILL DENNY said the original
Anzacs would be saddened by the indiscriminate slaughter of the war in Iraq .. but proud
of Australia's troops serving there.

Not all Anzac memorial services went to plan today.

In the New South Wales city of Bathurst .. five teenage girls allegedly painted anti-Anzac
slogans and peace signs on a war memorial just hours before the dawn service .. and RSL
members .. council workers .. and fire brigade officers had to work frantically to clean
it up.

Australians overseas are also commemorating Anzac Day.

Commander of Australian forces in Iraq .. Brigadier MICHAEL CRANE says dawn services
will be held across the Middle East .. followed by a couple of beers and maybe a few games
of two-up for most of the diggers.

Mr HOWARD and Opposition Leader KEVIN RUDD will attend the national service in Canberra
later today .. which will follow Anzac Day marches around the country.

AAP RTV dcr/cjh/jlw/rt/jmt

KEYWORD: ANZAC DAWN (CANBERRA)

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