By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT, KATRINA BRANDON, LIAM DURKIN and AIDAN KNIGHT

 

AUSTRALIANS paused at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month last week, uniting in solemn reflection to honour the men and women who served our nation in times of war, conflict and peacekeeping.

Remembrance Day is a time to acknowledge the courage, sacrifice and enduring legacy of those who have worn our uniform with pride.

Services were held across the Latrobe Valley.

 

Traralgon

MANY withstood the cold and wet conditions in Traralgon to pay respect to all those who’ve served and sacrificed their lives for our country.

The service still went ahead outdoors at the Traralgon Cenotaph with around 50 people present, umbrellas and all, officiated by Lt Colonel Doug Caulfield OAM RFD (Retired).

Etched into the war memorial is the 52 Traralgon locals whose lives were claimed during World War 1.

Groups and individuals were presented with the opportunity to lay wreathes, following the Lord’s Prayer from Pastor Randall Green.

Lest We Forget: Wreaths laid at the Traralgon cenotaph. Photograph: Blake Metcalf-Holt

President of the Traralgon RSL Sub Branch, Daniel Fletcher laid the first wreath in front of the Traralgon war memorial before both local rotary clubs (Rotary Club of Traralgon and Rotary Club of Traralgon Central), Traralgon Lions Club, Catholic Women’s Association, and Traralgon Police followed suit.

All primary and secondary schools in the area also marked their respects with a wreath.

Latrobe City Mayor Dale Harriman and Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath were also present.

Mr Fletcher recited the Ode of Remembrance, while Lt Col. Caulfield read out a personal poem from Traralgon local Dave O’Connell.

Next year marks the centenary year of the Traralgon RSL, with plenty of events planned.

 

Morwell

ALL rugged up due to heavy rain, around 100 people gathered inside the Morwell RSL Sub Branch on Remembrance Day.

This was the first year that Remembrance Day was held inside due to the weather.

A record low temperature hit for this year’s service, with temperatures getting as low as five degrees in the Latrobe Valley and up to 25mm of rain predicted throughout the day. Rain eased during the event, only to strike again after the services were completed.

Within the warmth of the RSL, attendees bowed their heads in silence for those who had fallen for our country.

Address: Morwell RSL Sub Branch President Don Fuller speaking on Remembrance Day. Photograph: Katrina Brandon

Morwell RSL Sub Branch President Don Fuller led the event, accompanied by instrumentals from the Morwell Citizens Band, who later played the Australian National Anthem, Last Post and The Ode.

“It was on this day 107 years ago, at about four o’clock in the morning in northern France, the allies and the Germans agreed to a ceasefire of hostilities at 11am on that day,” Mr Fuller told the crowd.

Sacred Heart Primary School’s house captains Scarlet and Jenna recited Flander’s Fields.

In attendance was Korean War veteran, Jack Darling (98), 101-year-old WW2 veteran Joyce Castello, two past presidents of the Morwell RSL Sub Branch, Bruce Jeffrey and Wayne Mutterson, Member for Morwell Martin Cameron, members of the local police force, schools and locals who wanted to pay their respects.

 

Moe

MOE’s Remembrance Day service welcomed generations of ages who came to pay their respects.

Moe RSL Sub Branch President Steve Mayes presided over formalities at the cenotaph, where a minute’s silence was observed and the Australian and New Zealand national anthems played in front of around 50 people.

Moe RSL’s immediate past president Ian Caines had the honour of laying the first wreath.

Schoolchildren also laid wreaths in tribute to the fallen, as did Moe Ward councillor Adele Pugsley.

Fortunately, heavy rain that threatened to hamper proceedings did not fall until after formalities concluded.

RSL personnel then made their way into the clubrooms.

Inside, Mr Caines was joined by Moe RSL past president Rex Daly, Tom Hunt and Peter Shears.

The four were all called up for National Service, boarding the same train in July 1966 to form part of the 12th Platoon of the Recruit Training Battalion at Puckapunyal.

Much like the iconic Redgum song, (“the passing out parade at Puckapunyal”) they weren’t much older than 19.

“Here we are, we all just turned 80,” Mr Daly said.

The quartet say they share a “very strong bond”, despite life taking them to different places over the intervening year’s post-Vietnam.

 

Trafalgar

LOCALS gathered at the Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL to mark Remembrance Day, joining Australians nationwide in honouring the courage and sacrifice of those who served in the country’s armed forces.

There was close to 60 people in attendance, of all ages and community groups.

Though it was scheduled for outside at the cenotaph, the weather was in such a state that it was moved indoors for the betterment of retired servicemen susceptible to pneumonia, at the request of Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL President Jim Crowe.

He began the address, speculating that the highly decorated walls of the RSL were “a little bit better inside than outside, but the significance of Remembrance Day hasn’t been lost by having it inside.”

Mr Crowe spoke of the casualties and survivors from the former Narracan Shire serving far and wide in each conflict, and the notoriety of the Western Front, in which Trafalgar saw 186 of its own (across Belgium and France). More than 680 men from Trafalgar were listed for overseas service in World War 1, with 65 reported as killed in action or died of wounds during overseas service.

Formal: The Trafalgar service was shifted indoors. Pictured is Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL Secretary Paul Altamore, Vietnam veteran Bill Kilday, past Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL President Ray James OAM, serviceman David Graham and Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL President Jim Crowe.
Photograph: Aidan Knight

“There were few local families who did not have a member or acquaintance who was not a wartime casualty,” Mr Crowe said.

A roll call of names followed, delivered by Trafalgar-Thorpdale RSL Secretary Paul Altimore. In a poignant gesture, no ranks were cited: “In death, they are all considered equal.”

The service also featured remarks from Reverend Dr Dean Spalding, who reflected both on his own family’s military history and the shared grief and resilience of the community.

Wreaths were laid by veterans representing each conflict, before CFA, Lions and Rotary clubs, Trafalgar High and Primary schools, 1st Trafalgar Scout Group and Baw Baw Shire East Ward Councillor Brendan Kingwell did likewise.

The ceremony closed with moving prayers for peace, gratitude for freedom, and a rendition of the Lord’s Prayer, inviting those present to recall and treasure the freedoms so dearly won.