Spirit of ANZAC still burns bright

None could doubt the emotions felt on Saturday evening as one young man handed a blazing torch to another, a boy on the threshold of adulthood.

Smoke swirled about them as Harry Adamson, wearing the uniform of an Australian soldier of 1915, passed the spirit of Anzac to another generation.

Flame has always represented life, and this flame was originally lit on September 28, 2014, in Albany, from where the first Anzacs departed Australia.

It is now travelling Australia, a journey representing the spiritual return of the 11,410 who made the ultimate sacrifice and never came home.

Geraldton is the only regional centre in WA to have one of the torches, following local RSL president Ross Davies’ trip to Canberra several weeks ago to accept it and one for the State RSL.

Mr Davies on the previous day had formally presented the torch to his grandson Jacob Davies, representing the next generation in a ceremony at Geraldton Grammar School.

Mr Davies said the burning torch represented everything that the Anzac legend stood for.

“Mostly it’s about the spirit of the Anzacs that burns to this day and will continue to do so, because their actions in war helped shape our nation,” he said.

Fittingly, Saturday night’s ceremony took place in the replica Gallipoli trench at the site of next month’s Valley View Air Display, at Northern Gully.

Next appearance of the flame will be at Camp Gallipoli at Bundiyarra on April 24, when people will be able to camp out overnight as part of the Camp Gallipoli experience.

Then on Anzac Day the flaming torch will lead a 5.30am march by veterans to the dawn service.