Bega's main Anzac Day march and service was attended by many hundreds in one of the largest crowds seen in some years.
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The crowd poured through the War Memorial Gate to take up a spot under the glorious old oak tree in its autumn colours, while many more contented themselves filling the main street to listen to the service, emceed as usual by John Watkin.
The special guest oration was given by Major General Andrew Hocking, deputy coordinator with the National Bushfire Recovery Agency.
He was told he had a lot to live up to given previous orations have been from local school students and very well received. He was certainly up to the challenge and gave a poignant speech on the importance of our country's service and emergency personnel, both in foreign and domestic deployments.
And not just in times of war but also when our own civilians are in need such as during the recent bushfires, floods and COVID pandemic.
The service was punctuated by the flyover of an E-7A Wedgetail, one of the Royal Australian Air Force's battlefield management aircraft.
Both the preparation of the flyover and its timely arrival between prayers came in for some lighthearted inter-service ribbing between the Army and Air Force representatives on hand to the amusement of the large crowd. (If anyone managed to get photos or video footage of the flyover, please let me know as it was here and gone before I could adjust my own camera - Ben)
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