From the mayor's desk | While services may be cancelled, the spirit of ANZAC is not

RSL NSW have made the difficult decision to cancel public Anzac Day services due to Coronavirus restrictions, and I encourage you all to respect their judgment and stay safe at home. But while our annual service may be cancelled, Anzac Day is not cancelled.

The day is not about gathering, but about honouring, and that is something we can each do in our own fashion. I invite all in our community to join the national Light up the Dawn event which will allow Australians to unite in the Anzac spirit at home from a safe distance.

By standing with a candle in hand at your front door, in your driveway or on your balcony at 6 am and observing a minute's silence as the sun rises, you can join with those across Australia to honour the service of our defence forces.

Anzac Day is a special day for us all. For me I remember and honour my grandfathers who both fought at Gallipoli, and my father who served in the Second World War in the Royal Australian Air Force.

The ANZAC dawn service at East Kempsey Cenotaph has always been a part of my life but this year I will remember them at my front gate. In this period of extreme challenge and isolation, I cannot think of a better time to celebrate the Australian spirit.

For those who play an instrument I would also recommend you join the Music for Mateship movement.

At 6am on Anzac Day musicians everywhere are being called on to take to their front yards to play the Last Post.

Details and sheet music can be found at musicformateship.org and I hope to hear an impromptu orchestra taking up that heart-swelling refrain. Just be sure to follow their advice and let your neighbours know in advance by letter box drop!

if you don't play an instrument, perhaps you can recite the ode.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning;

We will remember them."