A simple and respectful Remembrance Day service was held at the Korumburra Cenotaph, followed by the unveiling of a plaque marking the long-established Lone Pine in Coleman Park, a descendant of the original Lone Pine at Gallipoli.
During the Remembrance Day service, Korumburra RSL president David Jackson spoke of the loss of life, and the trauma experienced by many survivors of war.
He noted that while there was much celebration on Armistice Day, that was not universal given the tremendous sacrifices made during the years of WWI.
Hugh Hendry delivered the famous poem containing the words, “If you break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders Fields.”
Retired Navy veteran Ken Wanklyn spoke of his service, including starting out in the hydrographic branch making maps onboard HMAS Flinders.
Ken recalled that soon after his wedding, his wife’s father passed away aged just 51 having been affected psychologically by the horrors of war.
“I was probably the first guy he’d opened up to,” Ken said, the death of his father-in-law a shattering experience that still affects him.
However, Ken included some frivolity, speaking about his habit of standing on a milk crate while manning a ship’s bridge to provide him with the necessary height to take in the surrounding view, to the great amusement of other officers.
A couple of next year’s Korumburra Secondary College captains, Riley McIntosh and Kiera Witton laid a wreath, and Nigel Hutchinson-Brooks played The Last Post on his flugelhorn, having first played the piece at a service 62 years ago.
Local Vietnam veteran Perry Neil spoke about the Coleman Park Lone Pine, its unveiling carried out by Helen Maguire, Dennis and Travis Conn and Tony Fowles, descendants of Gallipoli veterans.
Mary Fields and Avis Tilley then placed a wreath alongside the plaque.
