By Alesha Capone
Veterans, musicians and families across Wyndham turned out in droves to mark ANZAC Day on the weekend.
While pandemic regulations meant that most people could not attend traditional ANNAC ceremonies or marches, many Australians stood in their driveways on Saturday morning to mark a minute’s silence or listen to radio broadcasts of ANZAC services.
Among them was World War II veteran William Maurice ‘Morrie’ Weston, who is aged 99-and-a-half-years-old.
Mr Weston was joined by his son Paul, grandson Dane and Dane’s partner Ollie in Werribee on Saturday morning.
Paul said that his father served in an Air Force recovery unit during the war, and upon returning to Australia, he spent another 23 or so years working as a storeman at the RAAF bases in Point Cook and Laverton.
Another local who marked Anzac Day by standing in their driveway was Wyndham Vale’s Ian Domoney.
Mr Domoney played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes twice on Saturday morning, while wearing traditional Highland dress, as an ANZAC tribute.
A member of the Victoria Scottish Pipes & Drums, Mr Domoney said he also encouraged pipers across Australia and New Zealand to play Scotland the Brave at 8pm on Good Friday, to show support for health and frontline workers.
Mr Domoney said he contacted musicians he knew, and also used social media, to urge pipers to play the song from their driveway.
Another musician, Corpus Christi Primary School teacher Katharine Ware, said she usually played her trumpet at the school on ANZAC Day.
However, this year she played The Last Post at the end of her driveway at 6am on Saturday.
“ANZAC Day has always been an important part of my life and my family and I always show respect and honour the past,” she said.
