By Michael Doran
RSL sub-branches throughout the Yarra Valley will conduct services on Remembrance Day – Sunday, 11 November.
One hundred years ago, on 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent.
After more than four years of brutal fighting in the most destructive war the modern world had seen, the guns fell silent, and people around the world rejoiced.
But, it came at a great cost, and for Australia, of the some 416,000 who enlisted for service more than 60,000 died.
In the years that followed the war, 11 November was known as Armistice Day and two minutes of solemn silence was observed at 11am.
Today, 11 November is known as Remembrance Day, and it stands as the day we pause and remember the men and women who have suffered and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations over a century of service.
One way in which they are honoured is by the laying of poppies and reciting of the poem “In Flanders Fields.”
Details of the Remembrance Day services are as follows:
Healesville
Service at Healesville RSL Memorial commencing at 10.45am. Contact: Healesville RSL 5962 5017.
Lilydale
Service at the cenotaph in the main street commencing at 10.30am. Contact: Don Parsons 0418 588360.
Marysville
Service at the cenotaph in Marysville commencing at 10.45am. Contact: Ron Jones 0438 752457.
Mount Evelyn
Service at the Mount Evelyn War Memorial Gardens at 10.45am. Contact: Roger Boness 9737 0830.
Wandin Yallock
Service at the war memorial on the corner of Hunter and Beenak Roads commencing at 11am. Contact: Gavan McIntyre 0409 343 947.
Warburton
Service at the cenotaph at Warburton Memorial Park commencing at 10.40am. Contact: Lindsay Fisher 5966 5118.
Yarra Glen
Service at the Yarra Glen Cenotaph (in front of the Memorial Hall) commencing at 10.30am. Contact: Ed Bartosh 9739 1879.
Yarra Junction
Service at the cenotaph in Yarra Junction, commencing at 10.45am. Contact: Upper Yarra RSL 5967 1771.
