THE Mount Gambier Anzac Day parade looked a little different from previous years yesterday as women took a different position in the march.
Women who served in the Australian Defence Force led the city’s parade for the first time in history in a move to raise awareness of their contribution.
Among those to proudly march was Leanne Dunn, who served in the Royal Australian Navy during a number of conflicts, including Iraq.
Ms Dunn’s story is just a snapshot of the sacrifices made and the role of women in the Australian Defence Forces.
Retired Navy commander Sandy Coulson joined Ms Dunn and other former servicewomen who proudly marched in yesterday’s iconic Anzac Day parade.
Thousands of people attended Anzac Day services and events in Mount Gambier, including the poignant dawn service at the city’s Vansittart Park Soldiers War Memorial.
Mount Gambier Community RSL president Bob Sandow yesterday estimated the dawn service attracted the largest crowd in living memory.
It is estimated up to 4000 swarmed around the war memorial at the break of dawn to honour of those who fought in all theatres of war.
Speaking at the parade, Ms Coulson said she was pleased women were receiving the recognition they deserved.
“It is wonderful and it is great recognition to the women who are out the front of the parade,” Sandy Coulson said.
“Normally women are right down the back. It is absolutely tremendous the fact there has been some publicity that has brought out women who have never marched before.
“This is wonderful to see.”
Meanwhile, Ms Dunn – who served in Somalia, Iraq and border protection efforts with the Royal Australian Navy – echoed similar sentiments.
Ms Dunn described yesterday’s march as a “nice gesture” for women who had served in the Australian Defence Forces.
“Anzac Day is a chance to commemorate and reflect on past conflicts,” she said.
She said the statistics cited at yesterday’s dawn service in Mount Gambier were compelling and something that must be remembered.
“In the past 117 years, there have only been three weeks of peace on earth,” Ms Dunn told The Border Watch.
While there were “ups and downs” during her more than 20 years with the navy, she said she was proud of her service.
“I was radio operator, communications and information systems manager. I served on about eight different ships and had a couple of years in Washington DC in the embassy,” Ms Dunn said.
“I grew up in Mount Gambier and ran away and joined the navy and now I have come back home.”
Mr Sandow said it was great to see former service women leading yesterday’s march for the first time.
“It was the first time we had women leading the parade, which was a focus around Australia to honour the women who served and to allow them to wear their medals on their left,” the RSL veteran said.
“It was important for our RSL to do it even though the Mount Gambier RSL has never challenged women marching with medals on the left.”
But he said the promotion resulted in the largest contingent of women marching in the Anzac Day parade.
“We would like that to continue. We gave them pride of place up the front of the parade,” Mr Sandow said.
“It was good to acknowledge them, similar to the Vietnam veterans last year.”
