By Jed Lanyon
Community members came out in strong numbers to view the commemorative march from Warburton RSL to the cenotaph on Anzac Day 2019.
A service was held by members of Warburton RSL on 25 April, where Victoria Morgan gave a moving speech sharing the experiences of the many nurses who tended to injured soldiers in Gallipoli.
“More than 3000 Australian civilian nurses volunteered for active service during the First World War; at this time in 1914 most women rarely performed duties outside the narrow limits of social expectations,” she said.
“For Australians, the image usually associated with Gallipoli is that of Australian soldiers charging bravely up the steep and baron slopes of Gallipoli.
“Less known is the picture of Australian nurses on that same day, tending to hundreds of battered and bleeding men on the decks and in the confined wards of the hospital ship,” said Ms Morgan in her speech.
Australian Army cadets led the march on a sunny day along the Warburton Highway.
Many war veterans bearing their medals joined the march with CFA members and volunteers, students and teachers from Milwarra and Warburton Primary Schools, family members of fallen soldiers and Warburton community members to pay their respects.
Linda Jay from Iron Brook Donkey Farm brought Banjo the donkey to participate in the march on behalf of all animals that serve in wars past and present.
“Banjo and I do the Warburton Anzac march every year, and we’ve done it for quite a few years now, about five years,” she said.
Vietnam War veteran Roger Herod, 17 construction squadron workshop, and World War II veteran Dick Leith laid a wreath at the service.
Several students from both Milwarra and Warburton Primary Schools marched with their school banners held high.
The students then read a poem at the service and laid a wreath at the cenotaph.
John Mackay played the bagpipes during the service and while during the march.
“On this day, above all days we remember those Australian men, who died or suffered in the great tragedy of war,” said Wayne Morgan, president of Warburton RSL.
