A sacrifice to remember
Hundreds of people turned out in spring sunshine to commemorate Remembrance Day yesterday. Services were held throughout West Gippsland to remember the 11th hour of the 11th month in 1918 when hostilities ceased on the Western Front marking the end of World War I.
Today the day commemorates the ultimate sacrifice paid by servicemen and women of all conflicts since then.
In Warragul Baw Baw Shire mayor Mikaela Power thanked the community for attending the service.
She said it was a time to show respect and honour to servicemen and women of all armed conflicts.
She said so many had sacrificed their lives to ensure Australians could live in peace.
“It is a time to acknowledge all Australian servicemen and women who have served in armed conflicts and remember their suffering. “We must never take our peace for granted,” she said.
Warragul RSL president Bill Westhead said it was also an occasion to remember the living returned servicemen and women.
He said it was particularly a time to remember those who served in Vietnam, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq and those still serving in the navy and air force in the Gulf.
“We need to remember them and the trials they are going through.
“We need to remember the difficulties some are having and seek to support them into the future,” he said.
Bugler Julie Reilly played the Last Post and Reveille.
After a minute’s silence the Baw Baw Singers sang the National Anthem.
At Drouin, a crowd of about 150 people remembered our fallen servicemen and women whilst also reflecting on the Australian character and true value of peace.
Drouin RSL president Rod McNab pleaded to locals not to turn Remembrance Day, or Anzac Day, into a day of celebration or glorification.
“These days are days of commemoration, they are days of respect, they are days of peace and quietness,” he said.
If we could live by that philosophy, he added, then the sacrifices made would not be in vain.
Fritha Blackwood, reading an address made by her grandfather W. J. Bloye at a Remembrance Day service in 1937, took the crowd back to a time just after the Great War as Australians faced the threat of World War II.
Also known as Bill, his address emphasised that war settles nothing, rights no wrongs and solves no problems.
“There are no winners in war,” he said. Under the threat of further conflict, he said a nation’s strengths were not in the number of soldiers, artillery, warships and planes, but “must always lie with the character of its people”.
“It is easier to build armament than character. But character is easy to lose.”
Perhaps we do not truly value peace unless our peace is threatened, he reflected.
Rev. Heath Easton of Drouin Presbyterian Church opened the service with a prayer.
Following the laying of wreaths by local organisations and schools as well as poppies by individuals, bugler and Chairo Christian School year 10 student Nathanial Jackson played the Last Post and Reveille.
Drouin Secondary College students sang the National Anthem.
At Trafalgar, Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL president Ray James led the service, reminding the crowd that Remembrance Day was a time to reflect and remember the casualties and those that have served in all hostilities.
Mr James said the signing of the armistice brought victory to the allied nations but also sadness.
“At home there was little to show for the death and suffering,” he said.
Mr James said Remembrance Day was about remembering those that did so much for our country and paid a dreadful price.
“We remember those who are on our cenotaph and we can live our life for those who died for us.
“We also remember those who came back wounded, sick, bewildered and traumatised.
“Remembrance Day holds as much importance as Anzac Day. It is the day we stop and remember those who lost their lives to defend our democratic beliefs.
“We gather to remember the sacrifice of our men and women. They are the men and women who were willing to believe in something greater than themselves…(and) that gives them hero status today,” he said.
Branch secretary Paul Erbs read all the names on the Trafalgar cenotaph in honour of local families.
A march from Bunyip Hall to the cenotaph led by Irish Pipers Tracey Wilson and Rod McMurrich marked the commencement of the Remembrance Day service at Bunyip.
About 150 people, including a large number of students from Bunyip Primary School and Columba Catholic Primary School, gathered to pay their respects.
Bunyip RSL president Colin Teese led the proceedings and reminded people about the significance of Remembrance Day.
He spoke on the meaning of Remembrance Day and recited the Ode. Former Bunyip Anglican Parish Priest the Rev Alan Jones led a prayer and the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand and The Last Post were played.
About 70 people gathered yesterday to pay their respects in Longwarry at Bennett Park.
With the Longwarry Primary School joining representatives from Labertouche Primary, the service was conducted by many members of the local RSL. Ray Arthur, secretary of the Longwarry RSL said it was one of the bigger Remembrance Day services, as the granite monument that holds the 119 names was turning 100 on the day.
“It’s the centenary day for this monument, while we are also remembering a new name, Mary Kennedy, who has been recently added to the monument, she was born here in Longwarry before heading to Gallipoli to nurse wounded soldiers.” hee said.
Many members of the community laid wreaths in remembrance of all those who fought for freedom, including Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood who was in attendance for the service.
The Longwarry Primary school captains then presented Mary Kennedy’s journey through Gallipoli and after the war before the last post was played and Reverent Dean Spalding shared a prayer.
Attendees were invited to share a morning tea with RSL members at the Longwarry Hall.