Vic: Sole surviving Victoria Cross winner leads Anzac Day parade

00-00-0000
Vic: Sole surviving Victoria Cross winner leads Anzac Day parade

By Susan Murdoch and Heather Gallagher

MELBOURNE, April 25 AAP - Victoria's only surviving Victoria Cross winner Private TedKenna led Melbourne's Anzac Day parade in front of about 20,000 people today.

RSL Victoria historian Keith Rossi said the crowd appeared to be the biggest ever.

"The turnout was magnificent. The weather helped, but the Anzac legend is at the forefrontof everyone's minds," he said.

For Private Kenna, flanked by his son and great-grandson, it was a poignant moment.

And he confessed to a few nerves about leading the parade.

"It's a great honour ... I'm representing all the men who fell," the 83-year-old said.

"It just happens to be me who was the one picked."

Thick fog did not deter thousands of people attending this morning's dawn service topay homage to lives lost at Gallipoli in 1915 and in wars since.

The service was attended by federal Labor Leader Simon Crean, Victorian Premier SteveBracks, state Opposition Leader Robert Doyle and Victorian Governor John Landy.

Victorian RSL President Major-General David McLachlan said the Anzac legend gatheredstrength every year.

"It's been absolutely tremendous," he said.

"I was talking to young people about why they came and they said they wanted to comenot because anyone made them, but because they wanted to be here."

Melbourne High School Year 12 student Chris Peck told the crowd of his own pilgrimageto Gallipoli last year.

"I was 15. It's a bit of a shock to realise that many of my age said they were olderin order to enlist and serve their country," he said.

Premier Bracks said the response to recent tragedies both at home and abroad showedthe Anzac spirit was alive and well.

"The countless acts of kindness shown to those affected by the tragedies at Bali, thethousands who volunteered their time in the recent bushfires is another shining exampleof the Anzac values we hold dear," he said.

And he said he would consider marching in future Anzac Day parades in memory of hisfather, who served in World War II.

Mr Bracks's father, Stan Bracks, served as navigator on a Lancaster bomber in the MiddleEast and Africa.

Meanwhile, the Premier may have inadvertently ruffled some diggers' feathers duringthis afternoon's commemoration service, failing to join in "God Save The Queen".

Governor John Landy said while soon there would be no more soldiers left to remember,it was "the act of remembrance" which would keep Anzac Day alive.

AAP hmg/cjh/jlw f

KEYWORD: ANZAC VIC NIGHTLEAD