Fed: Stand against evil like Anzacs, dawn service told

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2006
Fed: Stand against evil like Anzacs, dawn service told

CANBERRA, April 25 AAP - Australians have been urged to be inspired by the courage
of the Anzacs and stand up against evil at a dawn service at the Australian War Memorial.

Principal Air Force chaplain (Anglican) Royce Thompson has used his address to more
than 20,000 people in the pre-dawn darkness in Canberra to draw on the Anzac legend.

Reverend Thompson said the thousands of Australian men and women serving overseas were
continuing the Anzac tradition by facing evil at every turn.

"It is a time to be inspired by their sacrifice and courage, so that we might play
our part in seeking to confront the evil in our world," he said.

"(The British statesman and philosopher) Edmund Burke once said evil prospers when
good men -- and might I add good women -- do nothing.

"We must stand against evil; we must work for peace together; we must not, we dare
not forget the Anzacs and all they stood for.

"Indeed, we must remember all who've left Australia's shores and stood in the face
of danger to combat evil, and those at home who've supported them."

Relatively mild conditions greeted the thousands of people who attended the national
service held on the war memorial's parade ground.

The memorial's head of communications, Dennis Grant, said he was especially pleased
by the large turnout at the ceremony.

"The crowds keep growing and we're gratified by the contribution that so many Canberrans
make to Anzac Day at the Australian War Memorial," he said.

In the darkness, just the crowing of some cockatoos and galahs could be heard as the
service got under way.

Later today, Anzac Parade - which leads up to the memorial from the shores of Lake
Burley Griffin - will be filled by the national Anzac Day march, which is due to be viewed
by Prime Minister John Howard and New Zealand high commissioner Kate Lackey.

Mr Howard this morning announced the war memorial and Anzac Parade would be included
on the national heritage list.

He said the war memorial was a majestic building which attracted thousands of people
every Anzac Day and up to a million visitors every year.

"By listing the Australian War Memorial and Anzac Parade on the national heritage list,
we recognise the courage of those who haver served in our armed forces, here and overseas,
in both the field of conflict and, more recently, as part of peace keeping missions in
our region," he said in a statement.

AAP sw/rs

KEYWORD: ANZAC DAWN ACT LEAD

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