The Wandin Cricket Club held its Remembrance Day ceremony on 8 November where despite the rain, members paused to honour those who have served and sacrificed for our nation.
Though there was no weekend cricket, people still gathered at the Wandin North Recreation Reserve, demonstrating the significance and importance of the commemoration.
The ceremony, hosted by Lilydale RSL and led by president Bill Dobson, commenced at 12.30pm with the haunting notes of the Last Post played by Tom Steele, followed by a minute’s silence as our community stood united in remembrance.
Then, the stirring sound of bagpipes played by Mick Ryan echoed across the ground, and we were honoured to have local MP Bridget Vallence in attendance.
Ms Vallence spoke of the role that cricket played during the great war.
“I commend the RDCA and Wandin Cricket Club and many outer east cricket clubs for exceptional leadership to hold a permanent Remembrance Day round, commemorating those who’ve served and paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy freedoms today,” she said.
The Rotary Club of Wandin will be holding a Remembrance Day service at the Wandin War Memorial on 11 November.
It’s located at the Cnr of Beenak and Hunter Roads, and the service will begin at 10.45am.
Remembrance Day reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy today – including the simple pleasure of playing cricket with our mates on a Saturday – came at an extraordinary cost.
