By Kath Gannaway
Hundreds of people defied a cold and wet Anzac Day across the Yarra Valley, gathering at dawn services in Yarra Junction, Healesville and Millgrove, and joining returned servicemen and women for the traditional marches and services at local cenotaphs.
People lined the main streets in Marysville, Healesville, Warburton, Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction to applaud returned service personnel from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and Afghanistan who headed up the marches.
Family members proudly wore the medals of family members, men and women, who served their country in the fields of war around the world.
The Seville and Wandin communities paid their respects at the Wandin Rotary Club service at the Wandin Yallock Memorial.
Community, emergency and sporting groups, along with students from almost every local school played a role in the honouring of local men and women who left, and who still leave, their small communities for military operations at home and abroad.
On the day, and into the weekend just gone, local football clubs lined up for The Ode before heading out on to the ground for the Aussie Rules Anzac Day clashes that have become an integral part of the commemoration.
Visit mailcommunity.com for more photos attached to this report, and our Anzac Day photo spread under “anzac-day-in-the-yarra-ranges”