[Rusty]

ANZAC day is just about over, there will be some still having a drink and a game of two up but for me a busy day is at an end.
Started at 7 sharp with getting up the young one, he was quite happy today because I told that we going to Max,s place, he understands an adventure at 4.

We drove past the Australian War Memorial at 7.45 there were people parking cars and walking to the grounds to get a good spot for the parade in two hours.On a few street corners there were old Diggers shaking hands as they meet at prearranged locations, medal and ribbons all shining in the bright morning sun.

9 am arrive at Ashley Wilsons to collect a newly machined motor for my 1963 Australian army 1/4 Ton Land Rover. Won it on Ebay and Ash picked it up in Melbourne after the Tank Museum sale Let the young one out to pet the rams and load the engine in quick time, said thanks and on again to the Hedges.

9.20 am arrive at the Hedges after passing a Bren Gun carrier all on its own sitting on the road. Max had asked me to give the boys a hand, I was wandering if I was too late. Pulled into the drive to see a young lady pushing a Blitz in reverse while her Fella Aaron sat in the cab trying to clutch start "Tickets". Parked my ute and push the Blitz it fires up and Aaron is ready go. Look for my ride the Ford ute and see it sitting on the battery charger, remove the charger and Boof turns up and cranks over, nothing happens. Check under the bonnet and see the fuel bowl is low, Boof rembers to switch on the fuel pump next crank it fires, but fuel is running out of a joint in the line. Grab one of Maxes new Red dot spanners and tighten it all up were ready to go.

Not yet Boof cant get the Bren carrier started he heads off with Nathan and the tractor with a tow rope, I follow in my ute. Arrive at the Bren jump in the back with the young one and we get towed down the road. I check on fuel and spark as we roll on in gear, No spark, check battery, totally flat. Race back and grab the Jeep battery, chuck it and the young on in the back and off we go on the tow rope, she coughs to life as I work the choke. With a big bit a throttle she roars out her open exhausts and the young one sreams and crys, its toooo noisy. Jump out and run 200m back to the ute get back to Max,s and Grab the Ford, on my way now its 10.15 and the parade is due to start at 10.30.

Make into town and sit back and watch the diggers line up every one else has made it in. Young Aussie soldiers, the pipers and diggers form up and we are on the way. 200m latter we pull up outside the memorial hall and I kill the engine and step out to join the service. The crowd is quite as the drums and pipers halt, the young Aussie soldiers form an Honour guard and do not flinch for the next 45 minutes as the service is held. I admire their dedication as I shuffle from foot to foot to eliviate my discomfort at standing. The speaches are made, the last post is played, wreaths layed and the honour guard rejoin their troop. The crowd brakes away the diggers go to the club for a feed.

Its time to move off that is all except the Bren it wont start we all join in a pushing effort, no luck out with the tow rope. It takes about 30 minutes to get her going this time and John Hedges races home to find some wire. I hot wire the Bren and with a quick tow we make a slow trip home in convoy. Say farwell to the boys at the Hedges and head to Rob Farmers place to return a borrowed trailer. Rob has the Dodge WC 51 fired uo so that we can take it out for a test run. Passenger holds the battery and operates the hand brake, no foot brake working yet. We drive up and down the country road outside Robs, we both have a huge grin as we pull up at Robs. Young one steps out and says for the first time thats a roooly cool dodge dady I dont want to go home lets just drive the Dodge. Rob heads back to shed full of restoration adrenalin, I head Home. It was a really good day to remember

Lest We Forget