"Lest We Forget" ANZAC DAY AUSTRALIA: Gunfire Breakfast, A March through the Strand, GSE, and even more Fauna!

Australia New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day is a day to remember all those who served their countries (i.e., the 4th of July/Veterans Day for the antipodes). The day mainly brings back thoughts of all those Aussie and Kiwi troops who died at Gallipoli in Turkey during the First World War trying to keep Turkey British. It's a very momentous occasion, and up to now I was beginning to think Aussies weren't very patriotic (nor have I ever seen them so well-dressed). The photo below is not from Princess Diana's funeral, but rather garlands laid at the WWI memorial along the Strand in Townsville:
It's a big day for Australia, as seen in this portrait of amateur abo painting on top of castle hill:

The day began at 4:00 a.m. on the Lavarack Barracks next to JCU campus. Kevin (Mundingburra Rotarian), a Salvation Army officer, invited me to the Gunfire Breakfast and Dawn Service being held there:
The service came first (it was dark--no photos), then everyone ran off to breakfast, leaving the seating empty for me to photograph (Mt. Stuart in the background):
Oh, here they are enjoying breky (i.e., breakfast):
After Gunfire Breakfast (no, I was not shot), I headed down with Fred and Janet Gillham (Munidgburra Rotary) to the Strand to catch the 9:30 march. Everyone was going (Magnetic Island in the background): Ah, what a lovely place along the Strand (Castle Hill in the background):
Well, I marched in the parade with the Mundingburra Rotarians, but before then I was able to catch some of the troops go by. Aussie troops are currently in Iraq, but more importantly they have now been deployed to the Soloman Islands, where they are keeping them 'democratic' and squashing the rebellion against the lately elected PM. The first marchers in the parade consisted of military personel, but mostly veterans. Here is a regiment that must be of Scotty origin:
It reminded me of an old war movie, maybe Patton, when the GB troops go marching along the streets to the tune of bagpipes:
Here they come...Getting closer....
Wow, he's catchin' some shut-eye (must have woken up early):
Don't see this too often:
When do American troops march through the streets?

Ah, the blue regiment:

A bit young to be in the military:

Different types of camo:
Ah, the police:
While marching, all the brass watched us go by. The dude in red is the mayor (Note: these are NOT actors):
Oh, wait, they are actually watching the local school girls walk by:
Yes, local school girls, in their uniforms (how cute):
Looks like they all wear uniforms:
Don't forget about the navy:Okay, now for the midday service. It's over there:
There:Wow, I am far away. That's a nice hat:
Yes it is:
Though they did not play Sousa or SSB, they did play some other recognizable tunes:
And now some up-close photos:
There's Fred on the left (South Africa Corps):
And here's our group:
There's the harbour:
And now to the Group Study Exchange Students from Brasil, who we met over at the RSL:
Trevor and Carol (Mundingburra Rotary) invited us for a tour of the town and dinner. Here's Ivana trying to photo a wallaby outside of Rotary International House:
Here's Luisa giving us her batwoman impression infront of the amateur abo paintings:
And now, a tour up the hill in back of where I live. The view wasn't that great, and there were quite a few flies and mossies after all the rains:
There is downtown. The tallest building is known as the saltshaker (it's really a Hilton):
Ah, living at Rotary International House, what views:
Oh, and wait! More fauna. This bird was outside of my window, creeping around one morning (bad photo equates to distance X minimal photons). I had to get Steve Cardiff (LSU Museum of NS) to identify this one. He says it's a Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus). I'll take his word for it:
Looks sort of hawk-chicken like (after-effects of Bird flu):
Here's a Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa):
Here's a rainbow bee-eater (saw them in Turkey, beautiful birds, Merops ornatus):
Don't know this one (Birdus Idontknowus):
This bird makes cool noises, but don't ask me what it's name is:
And lastly here are some lovely black cockatoos on the lawn of the barracks: