By Monique Ebrington and Kath Gannaway
ANZAC Day celebrations across the Yarra Valley ranged from dawn services, day marches and ceremonies alongside memorials, shrines and cenotaphs as well as an Anzac Day football match between Healesville and Warburton-Millgrove.
While celebrations differed in each town they were all well attended with residents following marches and lining the streets to pay their respects and honour the war veterans.
In Warburton the march from the RSL to Cenotaph Park began at 10.30am with piper John Mackay leading the processions of army, navy and air force, their families, local fire brigade, primary schools and St John Ambulance members.
Warburton RSL President Royce Turnbull opened and closed the ceremony, Pastor Brian Harvey led prayer(s), Malcolm Macnab recited the ode, the Warburton Primary School choir sang the national anthem and a speech was made by special guest and New Zealand resident Brigadier Gary Pearson of the Queens Own African Rifles.
Mr Pearson, who was joined by his daughter and four granddaughters in the march, said he was thrilled to be a part of the Warburton service and reiterated the camaraderie between New Zealand and Australia during the war.
Warburton RSL President Royce Turnbull said that he was pleased by the amount of Warburton residents who came to the dawn or morning service, the march and the ceremony in Warburton Memorial Park.
Mr Turnbull said that the Anzac spirit was an important one for all generations to remember.
“It’s absolutely essential that this memory of what happened and the price we paid is never forgotten. The price was horrendous,” Mr Turnbull said.
“The turnout has been absolutely brilliant and a big increase on last year. People are becoming more aware of the role played by their forefathers.”
Yarra Junction residents began the day’s official proceedings with a dawn service run by members of the Upper Yarra RSL.
Many residents, dignitaries and veterans participated in a march from the Commonwealth Bank along the Warburton Highway in the main street of Yarra Junction that ended at the Yarra Junction Cenotaph.
Upper Yarra High School captains Amelia and Brad both spoke at the ceremony at the cenotaph.
Amelia spoke of how the qualities of soldiers now underpinned the Australian national identity.
“Mateship, determination, endurance, sacrifice and courage were qualities seen within Anzacs such as the Australian Lighthorsemen,” Amelia said.
Brad spoke of the young soldiers and said the circumstances they faced were eye-opening. He said he couldn’t comprehend the atrocity of war that the young soldiers had faced.
HEALESVILLE’S dawn service and march also saw increased numbers, despite the daunting weather.
Healesville RSL president Arthur Ford said the day was one for celebrating the spirit of the original Anzacs and to pay homage to all who had died or were disabled in their service to Australia.
He also paid tribute to those who served in many capacities on Black Saturday and beyond. Members of the CFA, SES and other emergency services marched.
“I salute you all,” he said. “To me, those efforts brought out the true meaning of the Anzac spirit.” Healesville High School students commemorated past Healesville servicemen with a series of white crosses and the Badger Creek Primary School Choir sang the National Anthem.
There was a special tribute to Flight Lieutenant Les Webster, a Healesville RSL member who served as a Spitfire pilot in the UK and Europe from 1940 to 1944. In 1944 he was seconded to the RAAF, joined the 549th Squadron and flew more than 1000 hours out of Darwin.
Guest speaker was Air Commodore Ken Watson who spoke of the history of the Anzac experience which forged the spirit of the nation.
YARRA GLEN, too, showed the solidarity of community around the Anzac spirit and its contemporary embodiment during Black Saturday and beyond.
Local veterans were joined by community groups including the CFA and Guides.
Shire of Yarra Ranges Cr Jeanette McRae was guest speaker.
Picking up on speeches given by students from Yarra Glen and Dixons Creek primary schools, she spoke of the heroism and courage of the Anzacs and of the role of women on the home front.
She said those who were left behind had to care for people at home and for those who returned and said it was symbolic of what the fire-affected communities were dealing with now.
She said it was about commitment and looking out for each other in the same way as people did during the war.
“We live in a great country. It’s all about democracy, pulling together and looking after those who made the sacrifices and the need to nurture and care for them beyond the event,” she said.
