In the dim pre-dawn morning stillness in rural Seddonville, the small crowd of young and old gathered at the corner of the street. Stars were shining brightly in the dark sky and we could hear the sounds of the Morepork calling in the forest. After a few notes to tune their instruments, the pipers and drummer played a medley starting with “Scotland the Brave”, leading the way up a hilly gravel road to the Memorial Gates, with the crowd following respectfully behind. The Anzac Day Dawn Service was conducted by Ken Hill, who thanked everyone for attending. The country sounds of roosters and cattle in the distance intermingled with the reading of the service and the Ode to the Anzacs. A wreath was laid, people placed their red poppies on the ground, and the New Zealand flag was raised on the flagpole as the Reveille was played.
The skies were lightening as we walked back down the hill, and river mist was creeping over the paddocks towards us.
It is an Anzac Day tradition in these parts for the crowd to meet back at the Seddonville Hotel for breakfast. To warm us up after the chilly morning service, a couple of bottles of home brewed Drambuie is provided by one of the locals. As everyone sipped their drinks as they mingled in the bar, I went and chatted to the band members. They are part of the Westport RSA Highland Pipe Band, they told me, and were driving on to Reefton to take part in the 11.00am service, before returning home to Westport. That’s a big day with many miles of driving for these dedicated band members. Did I know why the drummer wears a red dress jacket?, one of the pipers asked me. Then he took great delight in relating that in the old days the drummers used to mete out the punishment to the troops, and by wearing a red jacket the blood stains would not show.
Behind the scenes the kitchen staff were busy cooking breakfasts. Out they came, plates full of bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and hash browns, with lashings of toast and tea or coffee. That certainly kept everyone quiet as they tucked into their breakfasts.
Derek had worn his NZ Defence medal to the service, and also proudly wore his Dad’s WW11 Service medals.
The sound of the solitary bugle filled the bar, and there was Ken Hill playing a few tunes. He looked surprised when I asked if I could take his photo, and quietly continued playing on.
The Memorial Gates looked quite different in the bright sunshine when we returned later in the morning to take photos. (We felt it wasn’t appropriate to snap photos in the dark with our flash during such a solemn occasion). The gates front the old Domain which previously held tennis courts, and the entranceway is lined by an avenue of trees.
In the domain grounds we came across the biggest pine tree we had ever seen, the huge trunk was enormous.
We took a quick car trip down to the mouth of the Mokihinui River. Oyster Catchers were busy on the river bank as they looked for marine worms, molluscs, mussels and limpets to feed on. They are rather striking birds with their jet black plumage and bright orange long beaks and legs.
We had a very interesting Anzac Day here in Seddonville - this is the first Anzac Day Dawn Service we had attended and found it very moving. We can all relate to family members who fought for our freedom in the wars.
“We Will Remember Them”.
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