YARRA Glen RSL, along with RSL sub-branches throughout the Yarra Valley will conduct services on Remembrance Day – Sunday 11 November.
“It’s a day we will again pause to remember those citizen soldiers who gave their lives to maintain our freedom,” said secretary Ed Bartosh who invited members of the public to join RSL members and their families for the annual memorial service.
The memorial service will be held at the Cenotaph at the Memorial Hall on the corner of Bell Street and Anazc Avenue starting at 10.30am.
“Following the short service we invite people to place their remembrance poppies at the base of the monument,” Mr Bartosh said.
A reception will follow in the RSL rooms in the Memorial Hall.
The Returned and Services League of Australia Yarra Glen Sub-Branch holds regular meetings on the third Sunday of each month at 10am at the Memorial Hall.
“Our mission is to support the wellbeing and betterment of our members, former and serving members of the ADF, and their dependants, with the provision of welfare and commemorative services and, where appropriate, contribute to the worthy needs within the community,” Mr Bartosh said.
Mr Bartosh said the tradition of using poppies as a symbol of remembrance started in 1915.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian Army surgeon, wrote the famous poem In Flanders Fields after the terrible battle in the Ypres, Belgium.
In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe and he spent 20 minutes of precious rest time scribbling 15 lines of verse in a notebook.
Poppies were first sold in England on Armistice Day in 1921 by members of the British Legion to raise money for those who had been incapacitated by the war.
The practice began in Australia the same year, promoted by the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia (now the RSL).
“Since 1921 wearing a poppy has enabled Australians to show they have not forgotten the more than 102,000 Australian servicemen and women who have given their lives in wars and conflicts during the past 100 years,” Mr Bartosh said.
Special $2 coins featuring the remembrance poppy have been minted this year for distribution through local RSL sub-branches.
Remembrance Day services
Yarra Junction: Service at the Cenotaph in Yarra Junction commencing at 10.45am. Contact: Upper Yarra RSL 5967 1771
Marysville: Service at the Cenotaph in Marysville commencing at 10.45am. Contact: Bob Embling 0418 344 432.
Healesville: Service at Healesville RSL Memorial commencing at 10.45am. Contact: Healesville RSL 5962 5017.
Yarra Glen: Service at the Yarra Glen Cenotaph (in front of the Memorial Hall) commencing at 10.30am. Contact: Ed Bartosh 9739 1879.
Wandin Yallock: Service at the War Memorial on the corner of Hunter and Beenak roads commencing at 10.30am. Contact: Kevin Parker 5964 4422.
Lilydale: Service at the Cenotaph in the main street commencing at 10.30am. Contact: Eric Dosser 9725 9649.
Warburton: Service at the Cenotaph at Warburton Memorial Park commencing at 10.40am. Contact: Keith Thomas 5966 9470.
