In the spirit of commemoration on the 103nd anniversary of ANZAC Day, the ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil was conducted (for its 19th consecutive year) at the South Australian National War Memorial, North Terrace, Adelaide on Tuesday 24th April 2018. 21 youth volunteers aged between 13-18 years represented Surf Life Saving SA at the Vigil (pictured).
The Youth Vigil, which is an initiative of the young members of some 10 Youth Organisations including Surf Life Saving from around South Australia, is now accepted, along with the Dawn Service, the ANZAC Commemorative March and the service at the Cross of Sacrifice as an integral part of the ANZAC Commemoration in South Australia. The Vigil is organised by a committee consisting of one adult member from each of the participating Organisations, co-ordinated by two volunteers representing the State Headquarters of the Returned and Services League, South Australia.
Several hundred young people and their leaders, represented a diversity of groups, including: St John Ambulance Cadets, SA State Emergency Service Cadets, Australian Army Cadets, Girl Guides SA, Girls Brigade SA, Surf Lifesaving SA Cadets, Scouts Australia, SA Country Fire Service Cadets, Boys Brigade SA and Australian Air Force Cadets
Representatives from each Youth Organisation then paraded to place a “Tribute to the Fallen” on the Memorial before forming a Guard of Honour for representatives from the Legacy, Aboriginal and Turkish communities, followed by, Red Cross, the Catholic Community and a number of Allied Nations who also placed tributes on behalf of the ethnic community. This year the tributes were placed by young people in national dress, representing, at least 10 national groups.
The ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil aims to provide our young citizens with an opportunity to express, in a tangible way, the increasing interest shown in ANZAC Day and other Remembrance activities. At the same time, it encourages the young to realise that war must never be regarded as an acceptable way to resolve world conflict.