By Callum Ludwig
Residents of Seville and surrounds rose early for the second-ever Anzac Day dawn service at the Seville War Memorial.
New lighting lit up the faces and names on the memorial for all to see as the service began.
Anthony McAleer OAM was the MC for the event and said he and the Seville War Memorial Committee were very happy with the service.
“It was quite successful, the numbers were great and certainly an increase on last year. There’s always improvements you can make with these things and which we will look at for next year but we’re quite happy,” he said.
“I believe that Anzac Day is our most nationally significant day, more so than any other, it is a day where we can come together as a community., talk about uniquely Australian stories and to feel emotions for people that sacrificed a lot or went through a lot for our nation.”
Violinist Arielle Rose from the Melbourne Chamber Youth Orchestra performed Waltzing Matilda as attendees arrived, as well as Flowers of the Forest and the national anthem towards the end of proceedings.
Mr McAleer said a memorial and a dawn service should be something that engages people’s emotions.
“These memorials, they’ve got stories to them. It’s something that is not only just for the current generation but for generations to come, people will come along and they’ll learn from it, it’s an educational resource,” he said.
“We’ve put letters, we’ve put sort of various stories on there. There’s stuff on there that’s humorous, there’s stuff on there that’s quite graphic, and there’s stuff on there that’s really emotive and that’s what we want.”
Captain Noel Tipson of the 22nd Engineer Regiment of the Royal Australian Engineers told the story of Seville’s Victoria Cross recipient George Ingram who fought on the Western Front in World War One, fighting which resulted in the death of his brothers Driver Alex Ingram and Lance Corporal Ronald Ingram in action.
Sargeant Brendon de Schwartz from Lilydale Police said that George Ingram was the most decorated Victoria Police officer that’s ever existed.
“George Ingram was a Victoria Police member under the Shrine Guard and historically to become a shrine guard when the shrine opened back in 1935, you had to actually serve in a theatre of war to be eligible, and he was one of the first twelve,” he said.
“He’s an example of sacrifice, you cannot ask a greater sacrifice of any one individual to lay down their life potentially in any war, particularly for the betterment of life. As police, we go out there to protect the public and serve in circumstances where we potentially can lose our lives, and we have to be prepared as George did.”
Callan Moon from the Veterans for Fishing was meant to speak but was unable to attend due to illness.
Poems, readings and acknowledgements were done by Captain Steve Crupi from the Seville Rural Fire Brigade, Paul Bailey Life Member of the Seville Football Netball Club, the 1st Seville Scouts, poet Jim Brown, Chandler Ward Councillor from Yarra Ranges Council David Eastham and President of the Seville Township Group Graeme Black.. The Last Post was played by Ian Douglas and the Ode to the Fallen read by Peter Patterson of the Mt Evelyn RSL.
Mr McAleer said they want to keep the local connection involved in the service in the years to come.
“Quoting from local poets and telling the stories of Seville people, we want to keep that going because I think the more that people can sort of connect personally with a military heritage, I think the more understanding people have, and the stronger is the connection as a result.”
A free community breakfast was generously sponsored by the Wandin_Seville Bendigo Bank and cooked by the Seville Football Netball Club.
