TOM HAYES, ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC and LIAM DURKIN
By TOM HAYES, ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC and LIAM DURKIN
THOUSANDS of local residents were up early on Tuesday, April 25 to pay their respects on ANZAC Day.
People from across the Latrobe Valley gathered at cenotaphs around the region for traditional dawn services, before lining the streets of various towns to see veterans, their families, and those currently serving in the defence force march proudly on the most sacred day on the Australian calendar.
The significance of the day is never lost on anyone, regardless of generation, with the ANZAC legacy and spirit living on as part of the Australian story.
There was at least one major difference to previous ANZAC Day services, with this being the first time in more than 60 years, God Save The King was performed.
Gipps Memorial Park (By Tom Hayes)
THE Gippsland Memorial Park held a special ANZAC Day service, which was their biggest turnout to date.
Over the last couple of years, Gippsland Memorial Park (GMP) held services to honour fallen soldiers from wars.
But this year was much more organised, with more advertisement and more preparation involved, the service was well-attended and respected by all.
The laying of the wreaths took place beneath the plaques where the crowd stood, while the service continued.
Before and after the service, people were able to pay their respects to rested family and friends while at GMP.
The Last Post was read aloud and a minute silence took place, before the Australian National Anthem was sung to the crowd.
Thanks went out to those involved in preparing the day, and those who maintain the GMP each and every week.
After the services, people were able to grab a drink and an ANZAC biscuit, socialise with others and pay their respects.
GMP hopes to continue this new tradition, as it is seemingly growing each year.
ANZAC Day can mean a lot to different people, but it is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates those who served and died in wars.
Traralgon (By Tom Hayes)
HUNDREDS of locals braved the cold weather for Traralgon’s Dawn Service on the morning of ANZAC Day.
The traditional ceremony was well-attended after past years of COVID forced locals to pay respects within restrictions.
Between 5.30am and 6am, hundreds of people parked around the town and flocked to the Traralgon cenotaph for the early morning service.
The fog was still clearing as the numbers rolled in, listening respectfully as the sun rose over the town.
I’m not sure if it was the chilled weather or the rendition of The Last Post that gave me goose bumps, but hearing it aloud is a special moment.
As veterans laid wreaths and paid their respects, the silent nature of the crowd was once again bone-chilling.
Soon after, the streets were back to their quiet self, as people set off to celebrate ANZAC Day however they like, whether that be visiting more services or going to the footy.
Morwell (By Liam Durkin)
THE earliest of the dawn services was seen in Morwell.
Morwell RSL began its service at 5.45am, with attendees braving the chilly morning to lay wreaths and reflect as the Last Post rang out.
At the commemoration ceremony later in the day, a crowd touching the 1000 mark heard from ex-Australian Regular Army, David O’Reilly, taking to the podium as guest speaker.
Morwell RSL vice president Don Fuller, who served alongside Mr O’Reilly, took over being master of ceremonies for the day, in place of president Wayne Hutchinson.
Mr Hutchinson was undertaking the experience of a lifetime, walking the Kokoda Track. This particular walk carried even more poignancy, as Mr Hutchinson’s group completed their trek on ANZAC Day.
Back in Morwell, the service saw Sue Townsend perform the Australian and New Zealand national anthems, while Morwell Citizens Band member Tina Thompson was given the honour of playing the Last Post.
Mr Fuller thanked those for coming to Morwell, in what was a strong showing that the ANZAC tradition was indeed strong.
“It was really good, I would estimate there was 500 turnout here this morning, which is marvellous,” he said.
“There is a lot of young kids coming along with their parents, so the ANZAC tradition isn’t dead.
“We, the younger breed coming through now, the guys that didn’t go to Vietnam but have been to Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq … we’re the new ones coming through, without us maintaining that tradition of what ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day is all about – we’ll die, and we will never ever die.”
Local MP Martin Cameron had his first ANZAC Day as the Member for Morwell, and paid tribute to the work of RSLs in his electorate.
“It has been fantastic to see the response of the public after a few year’s off with COVID, to come out and pay our respects to our servicemen and women both present and past,” he said.
“Having the schools come along to lay their wreaths and learn about what is going on … no matter where you were throughout the Latrobe Valley, whichever service you went to, they were well represented.”
Moe (By Zaida Glibanovic)
CLOSE to 1000 people arrived early at Moe RSL to pay their respects on ANZAC Day.
Beginning at 6am, people lined all along Albert Street in beanies and puffer jackets, solemnly remembering those who made the greatest sacrifice.
Matilda Hillbrick, a Year 7 student from Trafalgar High School, graced the crowd with an eloquent and personal speech.
As a daughter of a service woman, Matilda expressed her gratitude to those who serve, having to miss their childrens birthdays, milestones and netball games in the name of protecting our country.
Matilda spoke of her personal connection to the ANZACs being a “great-granddaughter of a soldier, a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice”.
President of Moe RSL, Steve Mayes, who was the master of ceremonies, reflected on his own personal experience with the ANZAC legacy.
“I was with a depot out here at Yallourn where we trained young recruits and basically got them on their way,” he said.
“I had a grandfather that served in the First World War, and my father served in the Second World War.
“My father’s army service was quite extraordinary; born in 1923 and was in the Middle East in 1940, so he was 17-years-old.”
Mr Mayes said the day was “rather special for him” and was impressed by the turnout to honour our serving and fallen heroes.
Tyers (By Zaida Glibanovic)
TYERS’ main road was full as locals flocked by foot to the community hall as the town’s 20th Anzac Day service began at 7.45 am.
Hundreds of onlookers came to pay their respects, with Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, and Latrobe City Councillors Dan Clancy, Dale Harriman and Tracie Lund in attendance.
Traralgon City Band played a hymn accompanied by Sophie Bray, and with the help of the band, Tyers Primary School students performed Advance Australia Fair.
The guest speaker, Brian Soall, a former sergeant of the Australian Army, spoke of the mateship he formed with those he served with, and paid his respects to those no longer with us.
Australian Light Horse mounted soldiers were in attendance. The Australian Light Horse was a skilled formation of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) mounted infantry who fought at Gallipoli.
After the ceremony, those at the Tyers service enjoyed fresh bacon and egg sandwiches in the community hall.
Yallourn North (By Zaida Glibanovic)
THE sun shone brightly above the Yallourn North cenotaph as the town featured one of the biggest ANZAC Day crowds.
Students at Yallourn North Primary School were busy in preparation for ANZAC Day, crocheting red poppies to adorn the memorial footpath and learning the New Zealand national anthem for an impressive performance at the ceremony.
Councillor Graeme Middlemiss, who was the guest speaker, spoke on behalf of Latrobe City Council; he touched on the importance of ANZAC Day in commemorating Diggers’ sacrifice, and mentioned the conflict in Ukraine and how freedom should not be taken for granted.
Lowanna College students, Gemma Webb, Year 9 and Jake Keily, (Year 8), laid a wreath on behalf of the school and spoke at the event.
Councillor Tracie Lund appreciated Valley residents who flocked to their local ceremonies in the hundreds.
“What we are seeing is our communities are really embracing the spirit of ANZAC Day and want to celebrate and acknowledge our fallen soldiers and our current serving members as well,” she said.
“It’s really great to see so many people, and in our small communities, so many people coming out for ANZAC Day ceremonies, and I think what is great is the camaraderie you see around each event.
“All the events I’ve been to today, we’ve had our young people singing or speaking, and I think that’s a really powerful way for us to keep the legacy of ANZAC going.”
Stories: The Morwell ANZAC service heard from guest speaker David O’Reilly, who served alongside Morwell RSL vice president Don Fuller. Photograph Liam Durkin
Great job: Morwell East Scouts James, Charlee, Daphne and William pay their respects on ANZAC Day. Photograph: Liam Durkin
Wreath laying: Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron at the Morwell cenotaph.
Photograph Liam Durkin
Honour: Tina Thompson of Morwell Citizens Band plays the Last Post.
Photograph Liam Durkin
Proud: Flag bearers come to the Morwell cenotaph. Photograph: Liam Durkin
Represent: Latrobe City Councillors Tracie Lund and Graeme Middlemiss at Yallourn North’s ANZAC service.
Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic
Choir: Yallourn North Primary School performed the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand. Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic
Ceremony: Moe’s ANZAC day service commemorative march. Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic
Generations: Tahlia Russel, Chloe Abbott and her daughter Alayah honouring their great-grandfather Ernest Clegg at Moe RSL. Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic
We will remember them: About 1000 people turned up for Moe’s dawn service.
Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic
Memorial: Tyers held its 20th ANZAC Day service. Photograph: Zaida Glibanovic
Young leaders: St Paul’s Traralgon Secondary School captains, Axel Sellings and Georgia Vardy, paying their respects at the ANZAC Day community service in Traralgon. Photograph supplied
Standing tall: St Paul’s Year 10 student Riley Alko proudly and respectfully wearing his cadet uniform under the flags at the front of the St Paul’s campus as students conducted their ANZAC Day service at school. Photograph supplied
