{"id":629504,"date":"2026-04-25T07:15:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T07:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/629504\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T07:15:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T07:15:17","slug":"anzac-day-2026-thousands-turn-out-for-kings-park-dawn-service-rslwa-roger-cook-condemn-crowd-boos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/629504\/","title":{"rendered":"Anzac Day 2026: Thousands turn out for Kings Park dawn service, RSLWA & Roger Cook condemn crowd boos"},"content":{"rendered":"

The solemn tone of the Kings Park dawn service was fractured on Saturday morning when a small number of people in the crowd booed Indigenous veteran Di Ryder who was giving an acknowledgement of country address.<\/p>\n

The response from the RSLWA was immediate and searing. After Ms Ryder finished, an emotional Mr Barton declared, \u201cthat was the most disgusting thing I have ever heard,\u201d prompting a wave of supportive applause.<\/p>\n

At the conclusion of the service, he stood firm, asserting, \u201cWe will continue to acknowledge country, we will not be bullied.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nearly 30,000 Western Australians gathered to honour Australians fallen from two world wars and other conflicts. It also marked the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.<\/p>\n

The crowd surpassed last year\u2019s attendance of 26,000, with some eager attendees securing their front row position with camp chairs as early as 7pm on Friday night.<\/p>\n

By 5.30am, the precinct was packed, with families clutching warm tea and coffee while children, rugged up in beanies and coats, proudly displayed the medals of their parents and grandparents.<\/p>\n

As the 6am ceremony began, the temperature hit a brisk 8 degrees.<\/p>\n

\"InCamera IconIn the pre-dawn darkness, thousands gathered at Kings Park in Perth. Credit: Gary Ramage\/The West Australian<\/p>\n

Notable attendees included Premier Roger Cook, Chris Dawson, Paul Papalia, Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds, and Basil Zempilas, alongside RSLWA State President Duncan Anderson and CEO Stephen Barton, who served as MC.<\/p>\n

Representing the Prime Minister was Patrick Gorman.<\/p>\n

Commemorative speaker Damien Bushell thanked those who served for their loyalty and determination.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe remember their courage, their sacrifice and the enduring spirit forged in the crucible of war,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe young men who landed at Anzac Cove faced unimaginable hardship. They were ordinary Australians from all walks of life, thrust into extraordinary circumstances, yet amid chaos, danger and loss, they displayed remarkable resilience, a fierce loyalty to their mates and an unwavering determination to do their duty.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cWe also acknowledge the families of our veterans and service personnel, those who serve alongside their loved ones in quiet ways, bearing absence, anxiety and loss and whose strength and sacrifice are essential to service, both then and now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Bushell highlighted the importance of gathering on Anzac Day to remember the sacrifices made by our service men and women.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sacrifices of those who served laid the foundation for the freedoms and way of life we cherish, we carry a sacred duty to remember their service, to honour their memory, and to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain,\u201d Mr Bushell said.<\/p>\n

Group Captain Peter Noak read a letter from Private Edward Mason, a 45-year-old Murchison miner who had lied about his age to enlist in 1915. Writing to his children on the eve of battle in 1916, Private Mason said: \u201cJust a parting word as it is possible you may not hear from me again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KingsCamera IconKings Park at sunrise. Credit: Gary Ramage\/The West Australian<\/p>\n

The letter was a reminder of the brutal reality faced by many.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly those who have been in this infernal machine can realise what it really is,\u201d Pte Mason wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe artillery is now, and has been for hours, pouring shells into their trenches in thousands, and when they have finished we have to charge with bayonets and hold the trenches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking after the ceremony, Premier Roger Cook praised the massive turnout, describing the dawn service as a vital act of \u201cpeace and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also did not hesitate to call out the earlier heckling.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor anyone to disrespect one of our elders and a veteran themselves is just disgusting and disrespectful,\u201d Mr Cook said,<\/p>\n

Mr Cook commended Mr Barton for \u201ccalling that disgraceful act out.\u201d<\/p>\n

WA Police said 15 move on orders were issued in relation to dawn service disruptions in WA.<\/p>\n

\"AnzacCamera IconAnzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorating all who served and died in military operations. Credit: Gary Ramage\/The West Australian<\/p>\n

RSLWA State President Duncan Anderson shared the Premier\u2019s frustration, labelling those responsible \u201ccretins\u201d who had turned their backs on the spirit of the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnzac Day, particularly the dawn service, is a politics free zone,\u201d Mr Anderson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDi Ryder is a proud veteran, and not only did they disrespect her heritage, they disrespected the fact that she\u2019s a veteran.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the interruption, he felt the morning was an \u201cabsolute success,\u201d noting that the increasing participation of school-aged children offered a sense of hope for the future.<\/p>\n

For many, this morning\u2019s dawn service was a generational bridge.<\/p>\n

Ex-serviceman Ross Ledger, 89, was visibly proud to attend with his eldest grandson, 33-year-old Tom Ledger.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always come,\u201d the veteran said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to be sharing it with family and it makes me really proud. I will make the effort to be here for as long as I can because it\u2019s an important message.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"EdenCamera IconEden Casey 3, Quinten Casey 6, Cole Casey 4, and Gabriel Casey, 5. Credit: Gary Ramage\/The West Australian\"AnzacCamera IconAnzac Day at Kings Park. Credit: Gary Ramage\/The West Australian<\/p>\n

Nearby, 65-year-old Ben Casey beamed as he introduced his grandchildren to the tradition for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI come every year with my daughters, we have never missed a year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While young Eden, 3, Quinten, 6, Cole, 4, and Gabriel, 5, were busy playing with their Anzac Day flags, their grandfather emphasised the gravity of the morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful,\u201d Mr Casey said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the first time we have brought the grandkids. It\u2019s important to keep that memory going and understand what we\u2019ve done in the past so we don\u2019t repeat it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on their experience, he added, \u201cThey loved it. It was hard keeping them quiet for that minute but they managed.\u201d<\/p>\n

For veterans Christopher and Kirsten Wright, 41 and 34, passing on the legacy to their children, Olivia, 8, and Byron, 7, is paramount.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe like to come down to Kings Park every year to do our dawn service,\u201d Mr. Wright said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot to pass on the customs and traditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the young ones were quick to declare the Government House hot chocolate the highlight of the morning, their parents \u2014 who served a combined 33 years in the defence force \u2014 ensured the significance of the day remained the focus.<\/p>\n

Long-time attendee John McPherson, 78, joined the crowd at the park, finding solace in the shared experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe camaraderie is always good come Anzac week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a whole lot of things going on that bring back mainly good memories and bring everyone together again.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The solemn tone of the Kings Park dawn service was fractured on Saturday morning when a small number…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":629505,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[45878,43,44,41,39,42,40,45],"class_list":["post-629504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-anzac","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories","tag-wa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=629504"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629504\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/629505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=629504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=629504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=629504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}