Touching tribute to Anzacs
It was a poignant - and very personal - moment away from the hundreds of thousands just down the hill.
But a moment intrinsically linked to the Anzac story surrounding The Giants' visit.
At 9am yesterday, among family and friends and navy cadets, 13-year-old Leisa Russell lifted a torch into the eternal flame at Kings Park. It lit up.
She then passed the torch to a cadet, who bent over and lit the flame that two hours later would be used to light a memorial flame at a ceremony at Langley Park to commemorate the Anzacs, as The Giants watched on.
It was a special moment for the St Hilda's student at a very difficult time.
Twelve years ago today, her father, Special Air Service Regiment Sgt Andrew Russell, was killed after his truck hit an anti-tank landmine in Afghanistan.
She was eight days old.
Later at the ceremony - after the navy cadets walked the streets with the flame to mass applause - The Last Post echoed through the crowd.
Like the 400,000 people around them, Leisa and her mother Kylie also made their way to Langley Park, and the significance of the occasion was not lost on Mrs Russell. As a bugler played those sombre notes, she bowed her head like thousands around her.
We will remember them.
Speaking at Langley Park, RSL WA president Graham Edwards said he was overwhelmed by the respect shown by such a huge crowd during the commemorative moments yesterday.
"I couldn't hear a whisper during the minute's silence and I think that's a reflection of how this has captivated people and made the connection between a Perth International Arts Festival event and the centenary of Anzac," Mr Edwards said.
Continuing in that vein, leading The Giants on their final march yesterday were the horses and riders of the Bunbury 10th Light Horse Troop.
Troop president Harry Ball, resplendent in his period 1915 uniform, said it was a great moment for the re-enactment society to play a key part 100 years to the month since 600 mounted troops paraded through Perth before leaving Fremantle for Egypt.
Denise Rafferty, the granddaughter of Albany lighthouse girl Fay Howe, one of the inspirations for The Giants show, said the event had been a terrific tribute that combined zany street theatre antics and spectacle with honouring the Noongar and Anzac traditions.
"It has been fantastic the way they made everything meld in together and it has blown me away that there have been so many people here," Mrs Rafferty said.
