Anzac idea rings out across network

When Steve Brown was a kid growing up on the South Island of New Zealand, in the then small town of Timaru, every Anzac Day he and his family would go down to the town’s cenotaph to pay their respects and remember his grandfathers and uncles who’d served their country.

This year Steve, who joined Sydney Trains 21 years ago and is a Train Guard based at North Sydney station, was keen that we continue to recognise this special day and not let Coronavirus dampen our spirits. With all 2020 Anzac Day ceremonies cancelled, he got to thinking!

He came up with an idea and sounded it out (pardon the pun) with his long standing colleague and former manager, Michael Mercieca – Deputy Executive Director, Customer Delivery (Region 1), Sydney Trains. The idea was to use the audio across the train network to mark the occasion.

The pair agreed that playing the Last Post at 6am would be a fitting and nice tribute for commuters and those living close to stations to mark the day. But how would they make it happen? They enlisted the help of Leanne Watson, Deputy Executive Director Information Infrastructure &Programs, Customer Service & Operations. From there the idea grew into a reality.

The result? On Anzac Day 2020 at 6am the Last Post was played out right across our network – from our city stations, to our regional centres, on our buses, our light rail and on our ferries.

It was a proud moment for Steve and his wife Sue (pictured) as they stood and listened at 6am on Saturday morning at Waitara station. Time stopped and all went silent except for the playing of the Last Post. When it finished, jubilation rang out. Across the station people on the platforms and in the surrounding areas standing on their apartment balconies and in their driveways, cheered and clapped.

Lest we forget!