By JESSE GRAHAM
IN THE morning and at the going down of the sun, they were remembered.
Thousands of Yarra Valley residents braved cold and rainy conditions on Saturday to remember soldiers who fought and died for their country 100 years ago.
At Healesville RSL’s Anzac Day centenary dawn service, conservative estimates had the crowd numbered at 2500, with people streaming into the car park, filling the area in minutes.
The crowd was absolutely silent as commemorations officer, Bob Gannaway, began the service, reading the Anzac Requiem, before introducing Healesville High School Principal, George Perini.
Mr Perini’s speech touched on an Anzac story not often mentioned – the story of teenagers enlisting in the war.
Four scouts from Healesville First Scout Group formed a catafalque around the RSL’s cenotaph, while Mr Perini told the story of James Charles Martin, who enlisted at the age of 14 years, three months.
“Today, they represent the child soldiers, listed on the Roll of Honour for the First World War,” Mr Perini said.
After being deployed to Egypt, Martin was sent with the 21st Battalion as reinforcements to Gallipoli and survived his ship being torpedoed en route, but died of heart failure after contracting enteritis in October 1915.
He was three months away from his 15th birthday.
“I appreciate that these were different times, but as a father and a teacher, I find it hard to imagine teenagers, young boys, fighting in any theatre of war,” Mr Perini said.
“They lost their lives in active service on behalf of our new nation, to ensure the values and beliefs that we hold dear as Australians could continue for future Australians.
“Their commitment and sacrifice, every serviceman and woman who fought to protect our country, must never be forgotten.”
Healesville resident, Captain Glenn Mitchell then recited The Ode, which was met with a roaring response of “Lest we forget”.
After the dawn service, residents and visitors planted poppies in remembrance of the fallen soldiers, before sharing a gunfire breakfast at the RSL.
By the time 9.30am came around, descendants of soldiers, veterans of recent wars, community groups and residents in their hundreds massed for marches in Healesville and Yarra Glen.
The Yarra Glen March, led by Yarra Glen Girl Guides members and flag-bearers, Eleanor Newell, Niamh Gilligan and Tilly Morris, was received by an applauding crowd, which lined either side of Bell Street.
The town then held its main Anzac Day service, hearing stories of soldiers on the frontlines, music about the Anzacs and speeches from primary school students at Yarra Glen, Yering, Dixons Creek and Christmas Hills.
Keynote speaker, Lieutenant Graham Sheehan, RANR, then delivered the Anzac Day address, and said that World War I was one of the first steps Australia took as a nation.
“This was the first time that we, as two individual sovereign nations, had assisted the allies as a corps, in our own right, under our own flag,” Lt Sheehan said.
“Also of note is that this volunteer force hailed from cities, towns, townships from all over the two countries – this was a nationwide effort that can still be witnessed by viewing the cenotaphs all over the two nations.”
Though Lt Sheehan said the Gallipoli campaign on 25 April 1915 was ill-fated, it joined the countries in an act of solidarity.
“It was not a success militarily, and as a community, we suffered for our efforts, but we all had the experience of this battle together and, together, we experienced the good and bad outcomes of the Gallipoli campaign,” he said.
The official commemorations ended with a performance of The Spirit of the Anzacs by the Yarra Glen Primary School Choir, and cenotaphs around the valley laid that day adorned with floral wreaths.
This year’s services were the first of the centenary of World War I, and broke attendance records with ease all around the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs.
For more photos, turn to pages 8 and 9, or visit mail.starcommunity.com.au.
