Remembrance Day Ceremony, Rookwood and Auburn, November 11 2019

The armed guard defends a commemorative cenotaph and is known as the Catafalque party, a group of 5 individuals – 4 armed with rifles and a single commander with a sword. Being a heavy weapon, it is a real show of dedication and resilience to hold a rifle at attention for the entirety of ceremonies, some of which may stretch for hours. It was two of these Catafalque parties that I was assigned to represent as a part of 307 Squadron, as a senior Cadet Corporal. The two ceremonies I attended were at Rookwood and Auburn, Rookwood on the 10th and Auburn as the main event, taking place on the 11th and having the exact minute of silence at 1100 hours. Both ceremonies lasted around 1 hour and 30 minutes. The guard is required to stay put for the entire duration, demonstrating discipline by resisting the urge to wave off flies or wipe at a rolling drop of sweat. The most difficult part is possibly maintaining ourselves in a condition so that we do not faint, as high temperatures and the requirement to stand stiffly at attention provides a perfect condition to lose consciousness. It is a good experience to perform in the guard, as it is a way of serving the communities that support our organization and paying full respect to the fallen, as the guard itself is a prestigious ceremonial procedure taken in major commemorative events.

Marshall Fan (Yr 10)