“Sacred and social” Anzac Day planned for Tea Tree Gardens

Tea Tree Gardens Retirement Village’s Anzac commemoration will serve a dual purpose, according to resident and army veteran, Doug Burnside.

“For me, it is a sacred and social service: the sacred part first, then we socialise,” he said.

“We follow the RSL format, and they normally have a traditional barbecue or drink afterwards, so that’s what we’ll do,” Doug said.

Over 100 residents, friends and family members are expected to attend the service, beginning at 8:30am in the village’s community centre.

An introductory speech will precede a hymn, the Lord’s Prayer and a recitation of John McCrae’s ‘In Flanders Fields’, before the service is completed with the Ode of Remembrance, a minute’s silence and the national anthem.

Doug, who lost a brother in World War II and several friends in the Vietnam War, served in the regular army for 12 years and as bandmaster for the Salvation Army for 18 years.

“This year is the centenary of the 1918 armistice, so I’ll speak about the 1914-18 war,” Doug said.

“We also drop sprigs of rosemary into bowls at the front of the service, which represent the Pool of Reflection in Canberra.

“We’ve followed this format since 2015, when we celebrated our first village Anzac Day to mark the centenary of the landings at Gallipoli.”

Tea Tree Gardens village manager Lucy Mulvany said the event promises to be a special one.

“Doug is such a lovely gent and does a wonderful job of organising our Anzac ceremony,” she said.

Tea Tree Gardens offers relaxed and secure retirement living in peaceful surroundings. Visit retireaustralia.com.au/teatreegardens for more information.