As the first glimmers of the sun rise over the ocean, waves
lap onto the shore, a pre-dawn chill hangs in the air. Locals, visitors,
rangers and emergency servicemen and women gather at Waddy Point to pay their
respects to those that fought and sacrificed their lives in the line of duty at
a special ANZAC service.
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| Dawn service at Waddy Point Copyright: Eurong Beach Resort |
The ANZAC spirit is strong on Fraser Island and each year
people gather near the beachside campground for what has become an annual tradition
officiated by members of the Orchid Beach RSL, a sub-branch of the Wide Bay
Burnett District.
One of the local organisers John Quincy said the first
service 25 years ago, attracted a crowd of about 20 people. Last year saw
record numbers of approximately 600 people attend the beachside service.
“It’s a big logistical effort, when you take into account
our remote location,” he said.
“There’s a lot of people that help out and a lot of work
that goes into the day.
“We are seeing more young people each year, which is very
encouraging.”
Following the dawn service at Waddy Point, organisers cook
up a hot breakfast and hold traditional games of Two-Up throughout the day- a
$20 donation covers costs of breakfast, local fish and chips and sandwiches throughout the day.
Fraser Island’s
beaches are also one of the best vantage points to see the RAAF annual ANZAC
Day fly-over.
While Fraser Island is most well-known for its incredible
natural beauty, the World Heritage-listed Island also has a unique place in
Australia’s military history.
Each year tourists flock from all over the world to visit
the famous Maheno shipwreck, which ran aground on Fraser Island’s Seventy Five
Mile Beach during a cyclone in 1935.
Built in Scotland in 1904, the 5323 tonne ship was initially used
as a passenger ship which sailed between Australia and New Zealand.
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| Wreck of the SS Maheno on Fraser Island Copyright: Eurong Beach Resort |
In 1915, the SS Maheno converted to a hospital ship was used for the next five
years in treating and transporting Allied wounded from Gallipoli and the
Western Front as part of the First World War effort.
The Maheno played a role in
transporting Allied troops from Gallipoli to safer facilities and brought
wounded soldiers back to Australia and New Zealand.
Marking its centenary last year, hundreds of people
travelled from as far away as New Zealand to Fraser Island’s Eastern Beach to
lay flowers and remember the fallen in a special service held at the site where
the Maheno now sits.
For those looking to take advantage of the long weekend to
explore Fraser Island and attend ANZAC Day services, Eurong Beach Resort is an
excellent base with direct access on to Seventy-Five Mile Beach, as well as the
island’s many freshwater lakes and walking tracks.
So if you’re looking for a truly unique, traditional ANZAC
weekend experience, mark the date and make tracks to Fraser Island.
