Healesville RSL supporters Dot Peters and John Stanhope.By Kath Gannaway
TWO Healesville residents have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to Healesville RSL Sub-branch.
Bugler John Stanhope and Aboriginal elder Auntie Dot Peters were presented with certificates of appreciation before a large gathering of members at the RSL’s end of year celebrations in December.
Mr Stanhope, a local nurseryman, has played at the Dawn Service on Anzac Day for 34 years, on occasion at the Anzac Day March and more recently at Remembrance Day services.
Mr Stanhope’s involvement began in 1974 when, as he puts it, someone at the RSL found out he was a trumpet player.
“I was in the cadets at school so when they asked me if I knew The Last Post and Revelle, I was happy to oblige,” he said.
Before Mr Stanhope signed on, a tape was played at the services, but there is no doubt the personal touch is appreciated by the ex-servicemen and women and the growing crowds, who now attend the Dawn Service.
“You don’t think about it when you’re playing, but it has a lot of significance, especially to the returned servicemen,” Mr Stanhope said.
“The bugle has a more authentic sound, a more haunting sound and I can see how it affects people.”
Ms Peters was recognised for her contribution to raising the profile of indigenous men, who served their country in war.
Healesville RSL took up Ms Peters’ suggestion in 2006 that the reading of The Ode during Reconciliation Week be accompanied by the didgeridoo.
Last year the practice went Australia-wide.
It was the first time in Victoria that the contribution of indigenous service men and women has been recognised at a formal ceremony.
The Aboriginal flag is now also raised along with the Australian flag at ceremonies around Australia.
An estimated 300 to 500 Aboriginal Australians fought in World War 1, 3000 to 4000 in World War II. Many more have served in conflicts since, including Korea, Vietnam and East Timor.
Ms Peters was nine years old when her father, Vincent, and brother, Harry, 16, signed up for the Second World War.
“Like a lot of young boys, Harry put his age up to 18,” Ms Peters said.
Her father was 39. He never saw his family, wife, Daisy and five children, again. After serving in the Middle East, he was taken prisoner in Java and died as a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway.
As indigenous Australians didn’t get the vote until 1967, they joined other Australians as volunteers. Presenting the awards, Healesville RSL representative Ken Swincer commended both Ms Peters and Ms Stanhope on their efforts for the sub-branch.
“For John to have contributed 34 years of playing the bugle without ever missing one service, is an outstanding effort.
“For Dot, it was her efforts in conjunction with our previous president in introducing the didgeridoo on Reconciliation Week that has spread to RSLs around Australia. Again, it’s an outstanding contribution.”
