The significance of the morning service was not lost with ex-servicemen and women, their families and friends honouring the sacrifices of war and sharing a prayer for the future.

Representing St Josephs Regional College in delivering the dawn service, guest speaker Alex Ross shared an insightful speech on valuing the freedom we share today as a result of the sacrifice, spirit and bravery.

He said Anzac Day has become readily embraced and is becoming increasingly pertinent to the younger generations of today.

“Amid the bloodshed of the Anzacs developed the essence of the Australian military including the attributes of courage, mateship, survival and dignity,” he said.

“They not only mould the identity of our young nation but have become integral characteristics within the psyche of Anzacs past and present.”

Of the 416,809 soldiers to enlist in the Australian army in World War One, more than 60,200 Australian boys did not return from the front.

“The number of servicemen who selflessly risked and sacrificed their life for Australia and its people were young adults, boys, many of who were younger than I am today,” Alex said.

That devastation rippled through families and communities as mothers, and wives were informed their loved ones would not return.

“For myself and the youth of today, it’s an unfathomable experience to have not lived through a war of global proportions or in fact any military conflict on Australian soil. We aren’t conditioned to the conflict of war and its brutalities.”

Alex spoke of the importance for all communities to remember and support the efforts of veterans – young and old - particularly those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“As a country sending our service men and women overseas, we have a community obligation and duty to look after them when they return.

“With the horrors of war experienced by all defence personnel in one way or another, whether that be physically, emotionally or mentally, the repercussion of conflict can result in devastating circumstances.”

Service men and women today experience a great struggle, Alex said. They are 13 times more likely to take their own lives than those Australians who have not experienced the brutalities of conflict.

The attitude of mateship our veterans instilled at the heart of Australia’s identity will live on if we offer them the support they need today.