By TOM HAYES, KATRINA BRANDON and BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
MONDAY, November 11 2024 marked 106 years since the end of World War 1.
Hundreds of people throughout the Latrobe Valley stopped to pay their respects to the fallen.
Traralgon
AROUND 100 people attended the Remembrance Day service in Traralgon, coming together on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month.
As the service continued, more and more locals going about their day stopped to join in the service, some even tuning in from across Franklin Street.
Traralgon RSL President, Ron Culliver officiated the service for the final time in his career, after deciding to retire in March next year.
Groups and individuals of the community were presented with the opportunity to lay wreaths. To be exact, 52 Traralgon locals lost their lives during WW1, each of their names etched onto the town’s Cenotaph.
Mr Culliver ceremoniously recited The Ode of Remembrance, while a member of the City of Traralgon Band performed the Last Post.
Gerard Lappin performed the flyover, crossing over the town directly above the Cenotaph before the formalities began.
Tony McMullen recited In Flanders Fields, while Pastor Randall Green also took to the microphone before the service concluded.
Morwell
THE Morwell Remembrance Day service also saw around 100 people attend.
More than a dozen local veterans helped lay wreaths alongside other local citizens and schools. Don Fuller, president of the Morwell RSL branch, officiated the service.
As 11am came around, attendees stood for a minute’s silence, after the Australian and New Zealand national anthems were played.
Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath and Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, sent apologies as Parliament sat for the day.
Mr Fuller said that Remembrance Day is a day to remember those killed at war and to be remembered in service. He mentioned he was pleased with the turnout.
Morwell Central Primary School and Morwell Park Primary School students took part in the service, with students leaders laying wreaths and reciting In Flanders Fields.
Moe
MOE RSL held its Remembrance Day service with a respectful showing of more than 50 people from all corners of the community.
President of Moe RSL, Steve Mayes emceed the service, with local veterans from Moe and district front and centre honouring their fallen comrades.
Wreaths were presented by representatives from Lowanna College, Baringa School, Moe South Primary School, and Moe Police.
Latrobe City Council was represented by Adele Pugsley, the newly elected councillor for the Moe Ward.
There was a particularly great moment following the minute’s silence at 11am, where during the national anthem almost all in attendance joined in chorus to usher the final verses.
It was a poignant moment of togetherness and patriotism when it coincided with the flag masks being drawn seeing the Australian flag shake in the wind.
