The Covid-19 enforced cancellation of community Anzac Day commemorations came as a shock to all of us, but none more so than Harry Coggan.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The World War II veteran has barely missed an Anzac Day march in 75 years, and this Sunday he looks to continue that, although he'll be transported by car.
The well-known retired local police officer and sportsman is not one to speak much of his service with the Air Force in the war years, but Anzac Day remains an important day.
Harry was an apprentice carpenter in Morisset, near Newcastle, in the war years when the work ran short.
He was only 16 at the time, but managed to follow his boss into the Civil Construction Corps and spent the next two years travelling and working with the service.
As soon as he legitimately turned 18, Harry joined the Air Force. After his training, he began work as an airframe fitter.
The Air Force took him from Victoria to Queensland, then eventually on to Japanese-occupied Tarakan for the Allied landing there in 1945. He then served in Borneo.
The atrocities of war remain unspeakable and Mr Coggan is quiet about his own service, but each year he has marched to honour service men and women of all wars and asks that we continue to do so.
"I didn't do it for any glory, I don't glorify it," he says, it was what the young men of his generation did. Many of his friends joined the defence forces.
Every year he marvels at the number of young people who turn out to Anzac Day commemorations, a photograph with his grandsons at the local cenotaph has pride of place in his room.
"I sincerely hope that the youth of today will keep going, it's a very important thing," he said.
Harry went back to his carpentry boss after his return from World War II but there was no longer work for him there. He joined the police force and spent time in Newcastle, Maitland and Hay.
It was in Hay, purchasing a fundraiser badge for the hospital, that he met his wife Noreen, and with her that he moved to Forbes where they raised three children in the community he loves.
Sunday's Forbes program
The dawn service will commence at the cenotaph in Victoria Park at 5.30am.
Veterans who wish to march to the cenotaph are asked to assemble in front of Club Forbes at 5.15am.
The mid-morning march will proceed from Cross Street down Lachlan Street at 10.15am, marchers are asked to assemble in Cross Street at 10am.
The cenotaph in Victoria Park will again be the location of the mid-morning service, with an address from Forbes High School captain Hannah Staines.
Forbes RSL Sub Branch president Michael Walker says the response to this year's return of community commemorations has been "overwhelming".
But in some ways last year's response - as individuals and families stood in their driveways at dawn to observe the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing under Covid-19 lockdown regulations - was even more overwhelming.
Club Forbes will be open to veterans and their families in the morning and then to the community in the afternoon.
Eugowra
The Anzac Day march in Eugowra will commence from the corner at the RTC at 10.45am and proceed to the Memorial Park where the ANZAC service will start at 11am.
Trundle
Trundle's march 'fall in' is at the Central School at 10.30am and the service at the Memorial Hall at 11am.
Bogan Gate
In Bogan Gate, the Dawn Service and Commemoration of Names will commence at 6am at Memorial Park. Breakfast will be served at Memorial Hall.
