SOMETIMES when an important celebration demands special treatment it's easy to go over the top.
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Trying too hard or going too big usually results in the loss of the true meaning of the celebration at hand.
Anzac 100 was always going to generate major projects - the significance of Gallipoli and Anzac Day in our culture demanded such.
Bendigo has done Anzac 100 beautifully and it's fantastic that the willingness of people to contribute to this special day sits right at the heart of the city's celebration.
How brilliant does the Soldiers Memorial Institute in Pall Mall look with the thousands of poppies draped from the pillars and the 100 sign front and centre?
A team of dedicated women spent the week sewing the thousands of handmade poppies together - they aimed to get 6000 from the community and ended up with 16,396.
On Friday night a field of more than 200 white crosses were installed in a beautiful memorial garden - each honouring a fallen serviceman or woman.
From Saturday night a dedicated team of musicians will begin a 6pm tradition of playing The Last Post and Piper's Lament at the Soldiers Memorial in Pall Mall until December 20 - the length of the Gallipoli campaign. Wonderful gesture.
The RSL men's shed has made two large steel poppies and through the 240 days of the 6pm tradition community members will be encouraged to place poppies into holes so that by the night of December 20 the exhibit will be full.
The Anzac tradition must be taught and embraced by the younger generation
Bendigo artist Brett Belot has produced an excellent oil painting celebrating the unsung heroes of Anzac which will take pride of place in the Bendigo RSL.
He was inspired to endure more than 400 man hours of work to complete the painting while watching the 2013 Anzac Day parade.
Some of the men depicted in that painting - Victoria Cross winner Albert Jacka, Steve DeAraugo and Frank Poliness - were the focus of a special assignment young Bendigo student Zahli Hansen produced for Anzac 100.
Such work is important given it's Zahli's generation that will be entrusted with continuing the grand traditions of Anzac Day and protecting the nation's proud war history long into the future.
To that end, the great number of school ceremonies across the city this week honouring Anzac Day and Anzac 100 were heartening.
The Anzac tradition must be taught and embraced by the younger generation to ensure the meaning of this special day remains understood.
For this is not a day to glorify war but remember those who fought and died protecting our country.
Well done to everyone across Bendigo and beyond who has played a role in honouring Anzac 100 or turned out on Saturday for Anzac services and marches.
A job well done.
