Standing on the shore of Anzac Cove, Flight Lieutenant Vernon Pather, along with other Australian and New Zealand personnel, realises the true meaning of duty and remembrance.
Well before the first light of dawn illuminates the Gallipoli Peninsula, we stand proudly at the edge of Anzac Cove, with the weight of history pressing upon us.
As a contingent of sailors, soldiers and aviators, we have the profound honour of representing the Australian Defence Force commemorating 110 years since the first landing here on April 25, 1915.
The catafalque party, representing respect and remembrance, is made up of two Australian and two New Zealand Defence personnel.
Together, they will stand as sentinels over the Anzac memorial, symbolising the enduring bond between two nations that was forged in the crucible of war.
The morning air is filled with the scent of the sea and the seriousness of their task.
As the appointed hour approaches, the commemoration starts with a traditional Maori acknowledgment of the spirits of the Anzacs.
It is followed by the warming sounds of the didgeridoo (yidaki), which echoes against the hills towering over Anzac Cove, then bounces back across the Dardanelle Straits, disappearing into the darkness.
The catafalque party begins a slow march towards the base of the memorial, their uniforms crisp, their Baxter boots polished to a mirror shine.
'Each tick of the clock echoes the memories of those who fought and fell in this very place.'
Minutes later, the Turkish sunrise breaks through the darkness, illuminating the landscape in light purple and orange hues.
For the catafalque party, this ceremony is a silent tribute, their presence conveying volumes about sacrifice, camaraderie and the unbreakable spirit of the Anzacs.
The minutes that follow the silence is sporadically broken by the gentle lapping of waves against the shore and the distant sounds of native birds.
Each tick of the clock echoes the memories of those who fought and fell in this very place.
In the silence between guest speakers we reflect on the young men who charged across these sands and who endeavoured to conquer these hills more than a century ago; their dreams and aspirations now part of the soil beneath our feet.
The New Zealand soldiers stand beside us, their expressions as resolute as ours.
Despite the passage of years and our different uniforms, we are united by a shared history and a mutual respect that transcends time.
Warrant Officer Shane Dixon, the New Zealand contingent's Regimental Sergeant Major, leans over to me and whispers about how magnificent the ocean looks.
"Excuse me," he says, and walks towards it. This is something he and all those in attendance have waited their entire careers to do.
He stands on the shore, head lowered, and in that moment, surrounded by the ancient hills and the endless sea, I think we all realise the true meaning of duty and remembrance.
The Anzac spirit is more than just a memory; it is a testament to the resilience and unity of our nations.
As long as we continue to honour them, that spirit will never fade.
