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    Anzac Day Rehearsals

    I could never have imagined just how much work goes on behind the scenes in preparation for the Anzac Day services – the work already starts months before Anzac Day, with things like setting up the grandstands on the sites. I take my hat off to all those leaders and officials whose efforts make the services possible – being with them for some of the preparation, I think I’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the incredibly hard work they put in.
    By comparison, us Youth Ambassadors had the easy part in the preparations. We learnt and continuously practiced our set of songs to sing together to the Chunuk Bair crowds – I still have the words ingrained in my head to this day.
    We had a few full days of rehearsals with the rest of the contingent on the Peninsula before Anzac Day, and while the weather on Anzac Day was thankfully perfect, we weren’t so lucky in all the days leading up to it. On one of the days up at Chunuk Bair, we sang our songs in driving rain and wind – bitterly cold wind, being on top of a high hill on the coast. We had to sing very loudly to be heard, what with the gusty winds snatching our voices away. I remember huddling into my rain jacket like a turtle. But we were unstoppable – all of us together as a contingent were toughing it out and so we wouldn’t let a little bit of miserable weather break our spirit.
    While we were rehearsing at Chunuk Bair, an Australian youth choir visited the site and of course, in the spirit of friendly competition, we had to have a little bit of a sing-off with them before they left!

    During rehearsals up at Chunuk Bair.

    During rehearsals up at Chunuk Bair.

    Just before the rehearsals at the Dawn Service site.

    Just before the rehearsals at the Dawn Service site.

    Dawn Service site.

    Dawn Service site.

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