How the Dock Dawn Service Started
Lest we forget
Shooter and Benny were pissed off when the government wouldn't let them go to the Anzac dawn service during the pandemic.
They both have family who fought in the World Wars, and felt not being allowed to attend an outdoor service was ridiculous.
"Bugger that." Shooter said. "I'm gonna play the dawn service over our speakers."
"Mate! You'll piss off the residents" Benny said.
"Nah mate, they'll love it. It's Anzac day for Christ's sake Benny".
So at 5:30am Shooter pulled out their biggest speakers and blasted the dawn service across the foreshore.
And to their surprise, not a single resident complained and many came out on their balconies to pay their respect.
Some even lit candles, and a handful came down to stand with them, which made for a special moment during a crazy time.
And that was it they thought. A nice one-off we can look back on proudly knowing we didn’t let coronavirus kill Australia’s most important tradition.
But as Anzac Day 2021 rolled around, they started getting calls asking:
"Are you guys doing your dawn service again?"
"Umm, we hadn't planned on it."
"I think you should. I loved last year’s. Plus I struggle to get the War Memorial in time and find a park" one said.
"Righto. Let’s do it."
So they blasted the service again and to their surprise, about 50 people turned up!
Fast forward to 2023 and over 300 people came to the Dock’s dawn service, and was the biggest day the pub has ever seen.
We highly recommend you go to the War Memorial for the service, especially if you’ve never been.
But to be able to play a part in helping more people remember those who lost their lives trying to protect our way of life, is something the Dock takes bloody seriously.
And we’re glad so many people do too.
Lest we forget.