“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
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Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
A passage we never forget – for those we never forget.
Today, April 25, we will pay our respects to the fallen across the Wimmera.
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Lest We Forget.
HORSHAM
Mid-morning service, 10.55am
March, 10.20am
Dawn service, 6.30am
Hundreds gathered at the Horsham Cenotaph in Sawyer Park on Wednesday morning for the 2018 Anzac Day Dawn Service.
Braving the cold and the early hour, they stood side-by-side in remembrance of those who fought and died for our freedoms.
The service begun with a veteran’s march and a salute by the Army Catafalque Party Mount Guard while the Spirit of ANZAC torch was placed.
In his opening remarks, MC Don Pirouet said it was important for the next generation of Australians and New Zealanders to continue the ANZAC Spirit.
“For over 100 years, the Spirit of ANZAC has lived long and strong among us,” he said.
“From the first landing at Gallipoli to our current-serving men and women, it is this spirit of courage, duty, endurance, love of country and especially mate-ship that will continue for another hundred years.”
Major Diane Romani of the Salvation Army then led the crowd in a reading of the Lord’s Prayer.
Guest speaker at the service was Major David Ellis who spoke about the everlasting legacy of the ANZACs.
“In a nation’s history, great events, whether during peace or war, live in the memories regardless of time,” he said.
“They are great not whether they were victorious or unsuccessful, rather great events are distinguished by the human endeavour called upon, by the examples they create by ordinary men and women, and by the legends they inspire.”
Wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph by various Wimmera groups, clubs, organisations, schools, individuals and families, each taking a moment to reflect.
The poem In Flanders Fields was read by Don Mitchell, with Alanna Sorell offering the response.
Horsham RSL president Robert Lockwood read the ANZAC Ode, then Horsham City Band member Catherine Beltz played the Last Post before a minute silence was observed by all.
Students from Horsham College sung both the New Zealand and Australian national anthems to close the service.
After the ceremony, the public were invited to lay a poppy or rosemary sprig on memorial crosses in memory of the 542 community members who made the ultimate sacrifice, including 48 at Gallipoli.
- Jade Bate
NHILL
Anzac Day services in Nhill continued a recent resurgence in popularity with strong numbers attending the dawn service, a wreath laying and a morning service.
Hindmarsh shire councillor Rob Gersch said low numbers could have seen the end of the dawn’s service 10 to 15 years ago.
"The local branch was going to have to pull the pin on the dawn service because they were only getting six or eight people there," he said.
"I'm not sure what caused the resurgence but I'm very, very proud of how our community acknowledged Anzac Day."
Cr Gersch said there would have been between 250 and 300 people at the dawn service.
"To be there at 6.30 in the morning is only a very small sacrifice compared to what our soldiers went through but it was a great acknowledgement," he said.
The crowd continued to commemorate the day with a wreath laying service at Nhill's cenotaph at 10.30.
A truck on the Western Highway stopped during the wreath laying in order to acknowledge the ceremony.
From there the crowd followed a march to the Nhill Memorial Community Centre where there was barely a spare seat during the second commemoration service of the day.
Nhill RSL sub-branch president Henry Berry spoke about the hard work done by the nurses during the Vietnam War.
"I served at the first Australian field hospital in Vietnam and worked with a lot of medical staff," he said.
"The ladies that were posted over there did an outstanding job.
"Some of the jobs they had to do were not very pretty but they did them very well – we are so proud of the nurses that put in their efforts in Vietnam."
Nhill College captains Tempany Croot and Bailley Zimmermann read the Anzac Requiem before a minute’s silence and the last post.
The ceremony came to a close after Wiremu Larkins sang the New Zealand national anthem in English and Maori before a rendition of the Advance Australia Fair.
- Stuart McGuckin
WARRACKNABEAL
Warracknabeal commemorated Anzac Day on Wednesday with a mid-morning service at Anzac Memorial Park.
The traditional march of veterans down Scott Street was followed by the laying of wreaths at the park gates.
Hundreds of community members then gathered inside the park to participate in the service and commemorate the 93 community members who lost their lives during conflict.
Guest speaker Yarriambiack Shire Council mayor Graeme Massey spoke about how Warracknabeal came to own a field gun from World War One.
“Today is significant because it’s the one hundredth anniversary not only of the taking of village of Villers-Bretonneux in France, but its also one hundred years since our gun at the entrance to the gates was captured and brought back to Australia as a trophy,” he said.
“We were lucky to get the gun, when war trophies were announced in 1920 the shire was told it was only going to get a machine gun.
“So they complained to State Trophy Committee and argued strongly that 600 volunteers had come from the town from a population of 6000 and 93 deaths.”
They were successful and the shire not only received the field gun for Warracknabeal, but the towns of Brim, Lah and Sheep Hills also received machine guns.
- Jade Bate
EDENHOPE
MORE than 200 Edenhope residents flocked to the towns Anzac Day service to remember Australian servicemen and women.
The service started at 10.30am.
Community groups and members gathered to the Edenhope Cenotaph to pay their respects for the laying of the wreaths.
Edenhope RSL secretary Malcolm Hunting led the service.
As the final wreath was laid Mr Hunting said The Ode before the sounding of the Last Post and one minute silence.
Mr Hunting said Anzac Day is a remembrance day, not a day to remember the conflict the fallen diggers went through.
“It’s about remembering those who served and the ultimate sacrifice they gave,” he said.
“They put their lives on the line for my freedom, my democracy and my ability to stand up here and talk.”
Mr Hunting said it’s especially important to him because his father served in the Air Force.
Mr Hunting’s son Phillip is with the Australian Great War Association, the association is a living history group which involves itself in commemoration and education.
Phillip Hunting was the guest speaker at the service.
- Elijah Macchia
ARARAT
Anzac Day march, 10am
Part two
Dawn service, 6am
Braving a cold but relatively clear early morning, Ararat’s community came to pay their respects at the Anzac Day dawn service.
Attendees were greeted with a multimedia presentation of first-hand accounts from the Gallipoli landing before the service got underway at 6am.
Ararat City Band provided a musical prelude and bugler Geoff Morley performed the the Last Post and Reveille.
Ararat RSL president Frank Neulist told the audience that April 25 was the day, above all others, that Australia remembers its own soldiers and those from New Zealand who died or suffered in war.
“The Dawn Service has its origins in an operational routine still observed by the Australian Army today,” he said.
“The half light before dawn plays tricks on soldiers from the earliest times.
“With all its grey and misty shadows, it is most favoured for attack by the enemy, so defensive positions were manned by awake and alert troops.
“As the light crept across the battlefield this, and still is, known as ‘Stand To’.”
Mr Neulist said more than 60,000 Australians lost their lives in the First World War and 156,000 were left wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.
“Today we remember the 400 plus from Ararat that joined a far-off fight in foreign lands, some never to return,” he said.
“We hold this day, April 25, as the day that shaped our character and our destiny more than any other. On that day Australian and New Zealand troops landed under fire at Gallipoli, and it was then, and in the campaign that followed, that the Anzac tradition was forged.”
Mr Neulist said the Gallipoli campaign served as an inspiring example for generations of Australians.
“Each year we pay homage not only to those original Anzacs, but to all who died or were disabled in the service of our country,” he said.
“They enrich out nations history. Their hope was for the freedom of mankind and we remember them with pride.
“Their courage, their compassion and their comradeship.
“They served on land, sea and air in many places across the world.”
Mr Neulist said Australia currently had men and women serving overseas in conflict zones and asked the audience to welcome visiting militarily personnel and veterans to Ararat and show appreciation for their service.
Ararat RSL hosted a ‘gunfire breakfast’ after the dawn service.
- Rex Martinich
STAWELL
Mid-morning service, part one, 11am
Part two
Dawn service, 6am
The Stawell community came out in droves to the 100th Anzac Day Dawn Service this morning.
Stawell’s first Anzac Day commemorations were held in 1918, with the first Anzac Day commemorations starting in Australia in 1916.
Anzac Day is a day of national remembrance that commemorates the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died during battle at Gallipoli in 1915. It became a national public holiday in 1927.
Traditionally Dawn services were simple and followed the operational ritual. In many cases they were restricted to veterans only. The day ceremony was for families and other well wishes.
Attendees at Stawell’s Dawn Service today were of all ages, and even a dog attended, who came to commemorate Anzac Day.
After the Dawn Service, a Gun Fire breakfast was held at Stawell Entertainment Centre inside the Town Hall.
Many people attended the breakfast, where eggs, bacon, toast, tea, coffee and juice were served.
This year marks the 103rd year anniversary since Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli.
- Alice Rennison
Residents will get up early and pay their respects in Horsham, Ararat, Stawell, Edenhope, Kaniva, Natimuk, Apsley, Goroke, Harrow, Dimboola, Nhill, Rainbow, Warracknabeal, Hopetoun, Beaulah, Brim, Sheep Hills, Minyip, Murtoa, Rupanyup, Patchewollock and Great Western.