Horsham's Returned and Services League branch is encouraging residents to participate in next Wednesday's Remembrance Day commemorations, even though there will be no public service due to COVID-19.
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The RSL will lay wreaths at the Sawyer Park Cenotaph at 11am on Wednesday November 11, as part of the annual recognition of those who have died and suffered in armed conflicts.
November 11 is also the date of the end of World War One in 1918.
Horsham RSL is asking people to observe a minute's silence at this time, as is conventional.
President Bob Lockwood says people can listen to the service at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance on their radio.
"As far as I'm concerned, coronavirus is a conflict as well," Mr Lockwood said. "We are going to get a lot of people battling mental illness out of this, there are people on their own and a lack of good psychological support, for veterans and in general.
"There are four World War Two veterans from around the Horsham area still alive but people are also suffering mental illness after coming home from more recent wars.
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"It is very important that we commemorate this day so that we do not forget the horrors of war."
Mr Lockwood said there were between 20 and 30 people the RSL was supporting across the Wimmera, veterans of conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and of peacekeeping missions.
Mr Lockwood has himself served in the Solomon Islands. He said people could also participate in the annual poppy appeal, which the RSL was helping to run.
"All the money raised from that will go to veterans and charities," he said. "People can buy those at the post office and Woolworths."
Only ten people are allowed to gather outdoors under existing restriction levels in regional Victoria.
Warracknabeal RSL secretary Richard McGinnis said his branch's executive would also hold their own small ceremony at the cenotaph near the town's post office at 11am on Wednesday.
"Wreaths will be laid, the last post will be played followed by the national anthem and that will be it," he said.
"There are up to thirty-odd individual wreaths laid in a normal year."
Mr McGinnis said there were only two Warracknabeal World War Two veterans still alive in 2020: Allan Vaughan, who now lives in Bendigo, and Merwyn Wardle, who lives in Minyip.
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
