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Anzac Day - how did it start?
'The Architect of ANZAC Day'
As an important architect and originator of Anzac Day ceremonies and rituals, Garland was described in 1924 by acting premier W. N. Gillies as the 'life and soul' of the Anzac Day Commemoration Committee, although he later shared the post of honorary secretary of the committee with Captain E. R. B. Pike. With the support of the various Queensland premiers who chaired the committee ex officio, Garland ensured that, as Anzac Day was a civilian tribute, the committee should remain civilian. The Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia under (Sir) Bob Huish only gained control of the committee and thereby of Anzac Day in Queensland in 1935.
Garland initiated the Anzac Day march, the returned soldiers' luncheon, the two minutes silence, the wreath-laying ceremonies at memorials and the special church services. He also began a trust to use money raised from Anzac Day badges for the care of soldiers' graves at home and abroad. The royal blue silk badges devised by Garland include the winged lion of St Mark, because St Mark's Day coincided with Anzac Day. The badge and ceremonies, vigorously backed by Garland, were taken up in other States and to a very large extent in New Zealand and Great Britain.
Citation details
Wendy M. Mansfield, 'Garland, David John (1864–1939)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/garland-david-john-6278/text10821, published in hardcopy 1981, accessed online 15 June 2014.
This article was first published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, (MUP), 1981-
Anzac Day 2016
Duncan Chapman's First Ashore flag was carried by Maj Peter Newland RFD in a jeep almost at the head of the parade. The Battalion provided two soldiers to assist.-
Anzac Day 2013
This has meant the the Association has had to secure a place in our own name for this and future Parades. In 2013 we were allocated Position 80.
This also meant that we needed to produce our own Banner and this with only a few days before 25th April. The President quickly organised a banner and Peter Newland and Vivienne Waterworth transformed this into a practical item using 2 'extending ceilling brooms' from Aldi. The result is shown here as well as a snap from TV showing Brad Shillig carrying it during the Parade.
Unfortunately we could only muster 8 members for the Parade and to gather afterwards at O'Malleys for light refreshments.
[right - Brad Shillig carrying the Associations new Banner]-
ABC's Tribute to Galipolli