By DANNY BUTTLER
LANG LANG Rifle Club commemorated the centenary of the Gallipoli landings in unique fashion, firing vintage .303 rifles from World War I-style trenches.
A big crowd turned out for the late morning Anzac Day activities, which were preceded by a moving ceremony which paid tribute to fallen soldiers from Gallipoli and all Australian wars.
A sandbagged trench with firing holes was built on the firing range and, thanks to the wet weather, even came complete with a sticky mud on the trench floor to give a more genuine Great War experience.
Club members brought 100-year-old Lee-Enfield .303 rifles to try their hand at the type of shooting the original Diggers would have experienced.
The vintage shoot capped of a big day in Lang Lang which began with the traditional dawn service at the cenotaph.
Lang Lang RSL president Keith Brown had a long day, starting with the dawn service, watching the shooting event and finishing after the special Anzac football game at night between Lang Lang and Kooweerup.
The Wold War II veteran, who served in the Royal Australian Navy during the Pacific campaign agianst the Japanese, said he was delighted with the public response to this year’s Anzac Day ceremonies.
“It has certainly been an expansive business,“ he said.
“We thought we would get a crowd in Lang Lang but we didn’t expect the crowd we got.“
In his speech to rifle club members and guests, club captain Laurie Thompson paid tribute to the spirit of the Anzacs.
“We meet here today, not to glorify war and praise victors, but to remember those who have served our country,“ he said.
“Like thousands of our fellow citizens we gather to honour the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in service for their country.
“The task of going and fighting at Gallipoli was one that was met with great enthusiasm by young Australian men, and thousands enlisted.
“All had an immense desire to fight under the empire, and become a part of Britain’s glorious military history.“
