How the Dock's dawn service started

Lest we forget

Shooter (Dock co-owner) was pissed off when the government wouldn't let us go to the Anzac dawn service during the pandemic.

We both have family who fought in the World Wars, and he felt not being allowed to attend an outdoor service was ridiculous. 

"Bugger it." he said. "I'm gonna play the dawn service over our speakers."

"Mate! You'll piss off the residents" I said.

"Nah mate, they'll love it. It's Anzac day for Christ's sake Kernel (my uni nickname)".

So at 5:30am he pulled out our biggest speakers and blasted the dawn service across the foreshore.

And to my surprise, not a single resident complained and many came out on their balconies to pay their respect.

Some even lit candles, and a handful came down to stand with us, which made for a special moment during a crazy time.

2020 Dawn Service

And that was it we thought. A nice one-off we can look back on proudly knowing we didn’t let coronavirus kill Australia’s most important tradition.

But as Anzac Day 2021 rolled around, we started getting calls from residents asking "Are you guys doing your dawn service again?"

"Umm, we hadn't planned on it."

"I think you should. I loved last year’s. Plus I struggle to get the War Memorial in time and find a park" one said.

"Righto. Let’s do it."

So we blasted the service again and to our surprise, about 50 people turned up!

Fast forward to 2023 and over 300 people came to our dawn service, and was the biggest day the Dock has ever seen.

2023 Dawn Service

We still encourage people to get out to the War Memorial for the service, especially if they’ve never been.

But to be able to play a part in helping more people remember those who lost their lives trying to protect our way of life, is something we take bloody seriously.

And we’re glad so many people do too.

Lest we forget.