By Jessica Micallef
The Mount Macedon Anzac Day dawn service has once again attracted a big crowd to the mount’s famous cross.
Dawn service committee chairman Bruce Mildenhall said people came by bus from all over the Macedon Ranges and Sunbury to attend this year’s service.
He said the atmosphere for the service was ideal.
“It was respectful but very engaged,” he said. “The Sacred Heart Kyneton choir are beautiful singers and I think they really captivated people by their singing of Amazing Grace and a couple of other songs.
PHOTO GALLERY: Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service
“We had the most perfect weather, a little chilly as usual.”
This year marked a century since the official end of World War I.
“Our theme of the service was the transition between active service and war experiences back to civilian life,” Mr Mildenhall said.
“It was our 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War where a lot of injured and shell-shocked troops came back.”
One of the many highlights of the dawn service for Mr Mildenhall was listening to Dr Frank Donovan sing against the backdrop of the Mount Macedon Cross.
“He’s a Vietnam veteran and he sang his song Bleed On Now,” Mr Mildenhall said.
“I guess the message of it is the effects of war that bleed on down through the families.
“The unique setting of Mount Macedon – where the sun comes up at dawn over the mountains and strikes the cross and lights it up – that’s quite an extraordinary sight for anyone who sees it for the first time.
“So we’re in a quite unique setting and had a really special service because of it.”
