A little birdie told us that the Anzac Day two-up celebrations at the Abrolhos Islands is a must-see event. From what we heard, we knew that we had to make it part of our Art Trail.
Arriving at the event was proving to be pretty difficult to organise due to the remote nature of the location, so we had almost given up. But a few days out from the event, we received a phone call saying that we’d been invited to attend. We were thrilled that it was finally happening!
We were picked up by Roo Dog and his gang of kids from the airstrip and driven by boat to West Wallabi Island, where we were met by local families who had lived and fished off the islands for generations. We instantly felt welcomed and shared fresh fish while hearing stories of life on the islands. Through these tales, we learned about the joys and sorrows that come with living in such a remote and unpredictable place.
One of the stories was about a recent storm that had washed away huge chunks of the island where their shacks were built. This has been a constant difficulty for the families that have lived on the island for three generations as the dated boundary restrictions are making it extremely challenging for them to rebuild.
The purpose of our trip was to attend the Anzac Day Dawn Service and the two-up game that followed. Anzac Day is a National day of commemoration of Australia and New Zealanders for victims of war and for recognition of the role of their armed forces.
The sight of the sun rising over the turquoise waters, casting a warm glow on the faces of the locals gathered on the beach, was truly moving.
After the dawn service, we watched as the lads built the two-up ring with a tractor and all hands-on deck.
The Two-Up game is a popular Australian gambling game that has become a fixture of Anzac Day celebrations but typically illegal to play any other day. This unwritten ‘yet written’ rule of making it legal for one day only brings an added sense of mateship to events on ANZAC Day as friends, families and strangers gather around the ring to join in a sacred game that has been a shared experience with Diggers through the ages.
Around 2 pm, boats came from everywhere and unloaded their punters on the island for an afternoon of beers and camaraderie.
We joined the locals in the makeshift ring and watched as two coins were tossed into the air, the players betting on whether they would land both heads or tails.
It was an amazing atmosphere and thing to witness as strangers became friends over a shared love of this sacred tradition.
Thousands upon thousands of dollars exchanged hands, along with many laughs and handshakes.
The amazing thing about the event is that every single dollar raised was put aside so that it would go to local charities.
This year’s funds were going to help a young Geraldton family and provide assistance to their 3 year old daughter, Elsie Groom who is battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Funds are also raised for The Royal Flying Doctors Service, and Midwest Charity Begins at Home Inc.
This year’s event raised a whopping $24,000, and everyone couldn’t be happier with the result!
Everybody left the island as fast as they came, and I'm glad I was able to document the event with my camera. I will be able to remember the day forever.
Shakey’s mission was to create a piece that honors the Anzacs, as well as the families that have lived on the island. Shakey had 24 hours to paint a mural. He was inspired by a historical photo that he found of Anzac soldiers in the trenches of Gallipoli playing a game of two-up. The boys on the island erected him a canvas using timber and panels that they fetched off a barge. Shakey painting incorporated Anzacs from the past, playing with the founding families of the island. In a way capture a sense that they are carrying on the spirit and traditions of the Anzacs through the game of two-up.
These experiences gave us a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Abrolhos Islands and left us with a deep appreciation for the sense of community and resilience that characterizes this remote and beautiful place. We made some friends for life, and can’t wait to come back, experience it again and finish the mural next year!
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