By Callum Ludwig
The township of Yarra Junction came to a standstill as the community gathered to participate in the annual Anzac Day commemorative march and service.
Gathering outside the Commonwealth Bank, residents lined the street in time for the march to proceed at 10.30am, ending at the Yarra Junction Cenotaph.
Upper Yarra RSL treasurer Geoff Smith led the service in the absence of Covid-stricken Arend Gribbrock, first introducing special guests from the Defence Force School of Signals in Watsonia, who formed a guard around the cenotaph.
Mr Smith then invited Upper Yarra RSL Chaplain Ron Thomas to start the event with the hymn ‘O God, our Help in Ages Past’.
Following that Upper Yarra Secondary College (UYSC) Captains Anna and Madelyn, and Vice Captains Jennifer and Darcie, came forward to give the address.
Madelyn said they recognise the importance of commemorating Anzac Day to pay our respects to Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who have served in war and conflict.
“Whether it be at the various dawn services and marches, respecting the minute of silence attending Anzac Day round games held by the AFL or the local football and netball club matches, it all serves as a way Australians can honour and remember those who served our country, they are a way for young and old to keep the memory of those who have served alive,” she said.
“Ultimately, the Gallipoli campaign was a military failure, with allied forces eventually evacuating the peninsula, despite the defeat, the qualities displayed by their soldiers of bravery, ingenuity, endurance and mateship became defining aspects of the Australian character and are commemorated annually on Anzac Day,”
“It is these qualities that have shaped our understanding of the soldiers and helped build the Anzac legend we know today as we stand here today and honor the memory of those who landed at Gallipoli, 110 years ago, we also reflect on the legacy they left behind, one that continues to inspire and encourage us to embody the Anzac spirit.”
Wreaths were laid by Upper Yarra RSL President Barry Powell, on behalf of incumbent Casey MP Aaron Violi who couldn’t attend, Eildon MP Cindy McLeish, Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child and those from various community groups and members. Poppies were also distributed to any and all attendees to be spread over the cenotaph.
After floral tributes were laid, Cr Child was again invited to read the Motion of Loyalty, but also took the opportunity to condemn those at the service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and the dawn service in Lilydale who heckled the Welcome to Country and acknowledgement of First Nations servicepeople.
“This morning, I attended the Millgrove dawn service and there was a wonderful acknowledgment of country given by Aunty Bennett and it was so appreciated by the audience that was present,” he said.
“First Nations people have served in Australian conflict and peacekeeping missions for many years and for many years the service and sacrifice of First Nation servicemen and women were not recognised or commemorated, they just went without mention.”
Cr Child went on to acknowledge Vincent Roberts Peters, an Aboriginal Yorta Yorta man who fought in the Second World War, was a prisoner of war and died on the Thai-Burma railway in 1943.
“Cr Child said like many aboriginal service people at the time, Vincent’s sacrifice went unacknowledged and his family was not awarded the same compensation as those of other servicemen.
“In 2006, Vincent Peter’s daughter, Aunty Dot Peters of Healesville and also the Healesville RSL sub-branch President Sam Halim held a remembrance service to recognise First Nations men and women… that was the same year the Aboriginal flag was raised at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne for the very first time,” he said.
“Today I wear a badge, it’s got the two indigenous flags on it, and in the centre of them, the Australian flag and that is true recognition for me of reconciliation, we’re on this journey together, and we’ll do it together,”
“Looking back more than 100 years, we stopped today to honour all those who endured the horrors of war, those who captured the stories of adversity and survival and those who never returned to the communities that waited for them, their courage, sacrifice and stories will never be forgotten.”
Mr Smith also shared the story of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion, who were initially only paid one-third of the rate white soldiers of the same rank and service during World War Two. After striking, they were paid two-thirds and eventually, in the 1980s, they were backpaid in full.
Mr Smith read the motion of sympathy before handing back over to Chaplain Ron Thomas to lead the Lord’s Prayer and the Australian national anthem with the help of the UYSC band, who also learnt to play the New Zealand national anthem.
Mr Powell read the Ode to the Fallen before The Last Post was played by bugler Wally Dunkley and bagpiper Amelia Gemmill.
The flag was raised by Mike Boxell and the service was closed with a blessing and the dismissal of the guard.
