THE Anzac Day march and ceremony on McBride Avenue was graced with only a light shower as veterans and organisations lined up, before reappearing towards the end, as hundreds gathered to honour and remember our soldiers, past and present, who fought for the freedoms we oft take for granted.
Wonthaggi RSL President Dan Lucas and Kevin Walsh RFD commenced proceedings acknowledging the men and women who lost their lives in the world wars and subsequent conflicts around the world. The national anthems of both New Zealand and Australia rang out around the cenotaph expertly played by the Wonthaggi Citizens’ Band.
In reading a passage from 1 John, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for one another…” Rev Graeme Liersch spoke of the importance of prayer and role of chaplains in wartime.
“For the digger in World War I having the chaplain around was very important to them. Every day the chaplain would lead them in prayers before they would go out of the trenches and towards enemy lines.”
Bass Coast College student Chloe Lawson delivered a heartfelt tribute to the ANZACs – ‘We remember those on Anzac Day’ written by Trish Reeves, before Mr Walsh returned to honour the 14th/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion and evoke the timeless values of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice exemplified on the Kokoda Trail.
“Courage – To step outside your comfort zone and stand up for what is important; endurance – To stay the journey and never give up; mateship – To act with integrity, embrace diversity and to have each other’s back; sacrifice – To serve a cause greater than self. Look out for one another,” Mr Walsh stated.
As the strains of the Ode, Last Post, and Reville filled the air, a solemn reverence descended upon the gathering, intensified by the rising wind. The poignant moment of wreath-laying and a flyover marked the conclusion of the service.
The dawn service in Wonthaggi witnessed an overwhelming turnout, with over 300 individuals joining together in solemn reflection on the dreary morning before gathering for a camaraderie-filled gunfire breakfast at the RSL, reaffirming the enduring spirit of Anzac Day.
