1 week Ago By Holly Thompson
And continuing with our Anzac Day coverage, Premier Roger Cook has lashed a heckler who shouted obscenities during the Welcome to Country, branding the behaviour “totally disrespectful”. Jeers rang out from the crowd to the right of the State War Memorial shortly before 6am as Noongar Elder and former soldier Di Ryder took to the podium for the traditional welcome. The man was quickly hushed by surrounding members of the crowd.
Cook expressed his disappointment over the incident during a press conference held shortly after the dawn service. Here’s what he had to say. Totally inappropriate, totally disrespectful, disgusting.
This is a solemn occasion. It’s one where we should come together as a community. For someone to use it to make a political point and in that disrespectful way, is really quite unacceptable.
Tens of thousands of people have filled Kings Park at dawn to commemorate Anzac Day 110 years after the Gallipoli campaign. The crowd brimming with veterans, dignitaries and their families surrounded the Cenotaph in the State War Memorial, the site of the state’s largest service. The sombre atmosphere was disrupted by a heckler yelling obscenities across the crowd, who was hushed by surrounding attendees.
Several speakers used the service to pay tribute to Arthur Leggett – WA’s last remaining World War II prisoner of war – who died earlier this month at the age of 106. Premier Roger Cook, Veterans Affairs Minister Paul Papalia and Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas joined defence personnel to pay their respects by laying wreaths at the memorial. They were joined by Senator Michaelia Cash and One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson, who made a surprise appearance.
The conclusion of the service was marked by the roar of the RAAF flyover. There are more than 100 Anzac Day events scheduled to take place at RSL sub-branches across the state, including a march throughout the CBD. Here’s what’s making headlines today: Police lead Jacob Hersant away from Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
Credit: Getty Images A cold start to the day, dipping as low as 9 degrees overnight. Good morning readers, and welcome to our live blog on the Anzac Day public holiday. Many of you, we’re sure, will have already been up early to attend dawn services across the state.
In Perth, tens of thousands of people flocked to Kings Park to commemorate Anzac Day – 110 years after the Gallipoli campaign. Reporter Jesinta Burton attended the ceremony, and writes that several speakers used the service to pay tribute to Arthur Leggett – WA’s last remaining World War II prisoner of war – who died earlier this month at the age of 106. Making headlines elsewhere today, political reporter Hamish Hastie takes stock of the state of affairs in WA, fresh of the back of yet another visit from the prime minister and opposition leader, highlighting just how important the west remains in the national conversation.
With the finish line in sight, pre-polling numbers surging, and West Australians coming out of their Easter break slumber, what will the final push look like from the major parties in the state that could hold the key to their hopes of forming government? You can read Hamish Hastie’s article here. And finally, in football, Collingwood will play Essendon in the traditional Anzac Day match, while Fremantle will host Adelaide in the first Len Hall Tribute Game to fall on Anzac Day in 10 years. Thank you for joining us today, we’ll bring you all the news and Anzac Day commemorations from across the state as they come to hand.
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