BALLARAT'S Justin Wilbur's Driveway at Dawn movement has seen more than 228,000 people pledge to take part this Anzac Day from their home, now a Gosford-based stone engraver has joined his cause and is providing a legacy item like no other.
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The family-owned business Talking Stones is manufacturing custom-made eternal candles, with $20 from every candle sold going towards grassroots veterans support organisation Soldier On.
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"This came about from a client of ours who approached us just last Friday asking if we were able to assist in making something for Driveway at Dawn, which to that point we did not know about," Talking Stones owner James Rae said.
"We made contact with the group via Facebook that night and by Saturday we had orders coming through.
"We thought it was a terrific initiative and we also wanted to do something to support an organisation which fits our ethos and Soldier On really fits in with that, they do a lot of great work supporting veterans at a grassroots level."
For Mr Wilbur, from Lucas, the response to his campaign has been overwhelming.
'We've got almost 230,000 people signed up on the Facebook page, and we believe it globally reached 30 million people.
"Anzac Day has always been a part of my life - my father is a Vietnam veteran - and so not being able to commemorate this year left me a little forlorn.
"The idea really came about after I saw a video of Italians playing music to each other, I thought surely Australians can do something similar.
"The other I guess unconscious thing was seeing the rush on toilet paper, so that was just so un-Australian, Australians are usually great in a crisis and this was just ridiculous behaviour. I felt we needed to do something nice to bring people together again."
Mr Rae said any order within the next 24 hours would be expressed posted out to residents. The stone candles feature a soldier with a slouch hat and the year 2020 emblazoned and are being sold for $120.
People wishing to order are encouraged to head to Facebook and look up the 'Aussies & Kiwis for Anzac page for details.
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