For the first time in almost three years Yarrawonga and Mulwala came together properly on Monday to honour the Anzac spirit with bumper crowds at the Dawn Service and marches held in both towns.
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After two years of home commemorations or short, number restricted services, the annual Dawn Service was held at the ClubMulwala RSL War Memorial before the march and service in Melbourne Street and at the monument in Belmore Street.
A great number of veterans, former and current ADF members took part in the march alongside the younger generation who were showing their respects whilst many attendees also displayed the medals of veterans passed.
At the Dawn service, school captains of Sacred Heart College Mia McCully and Ethan Lay as well as captains of Yarrawonga College P-12, Suzy Levesque and Tiare Wilson all spoke of the meaning of the Anzac legacy to the next generation.
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Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Subbranch members …, President John Burn, Ian Summers and Kevin Phillips join sole surviving sailor of the HMAS Canberra Des Jones (centre) at the ANZAC service at Woods Point Aged Care last week.Image 2 of 25
Woods Point Aged Care’s last remaining veterans Ernie Ives and Harold Whignell.Image 3 of 25
Dave Charrington placing flags on Veterans graves for Anzac Day in conjunction with the Yarrawonga Cemetery Trust.Image 4 of 25
Sebastian Blacklett from Wagga tosses the coins for the two up which was played on Sunday. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 5 of 25
The Lake Rowan service on Sunday was well attended. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 6 of 25
The Ode was recited by Trevor Hargreaves at St James’ service. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 7 of 25
Legacy’s Pat Andrews, Women’s Auxillary Gina Annard and RSL Subbranch President John Burnlay a wreath at St James. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 8 of 25
The Mulwala March was well attended. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 9 of 25
Father Tony speaks at the Mulwala service. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 10 of 25
Mulwala Public School’s Natalie Linehan and Isobel Hargreaves lay a wreath at the Mulwala cenotaph. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 11 of 25
A great number of people took part in the Yarrawonga March, the first one in a number of years. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 12 of 25
Vice President State Branch Tasmanian R.S.L Linton (Harry) Harris was the guest speaker for the Yarrawonga service. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 13 of 25
Sacred Heart Primary School’s Maya Hargreaves and Spencer Cowan lay a wreath at the Yarrawonga cenotaph. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 14 of 25
Yarrawonga College P-12 students Nixon Nunn and Sam Phillips also lay a wreath. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 15 of 25
Jessica McDonald and Jack McQaulter – White lay a wreath at Lake Rowan. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 16 of 25
Charlotte and Maggie Whinray with mum Rebecca lay some flowers. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 17 of 25
St James ceremony Guest Speaker Dianne Pendergast. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 18 of 25
The crowd at the St James service. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 19 of 25
Blake and Judd Parker with their Pop Ged lay some flowers at St James. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 20 of 25
Mulwala Public School was well represented in the Mulwala march. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 21 of 25
Yarrawonga College P-12 students Willoh Haebich-Laity and Sam Phillips lay a wreath at the Mulwala service. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 22 of 25
Sacred Heart Primary School students Chelsea Carroll, Zaine Penrose and Charli Taylor also layed a wreath at Mulwala. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 23 of 25
The Yarrawonga march both had a great number of people marching as well as a crowd watching along. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 24 of 25
The local schools took part in the march, paying their respects. Photo by Les_GarbuttImage 25 of 25
Father Michael Morley speaks at the Yarrawonga service. Photo by Les_Garbutt“ANZAC Day is a day to remember and honour the service and sacrifices made by those who have defended and served our country,” Sacred Heart Captain Mia McCully said.
“Over one hundred years on from the Gallipoli landing, the ANZAC legacy continues to live on through each and every Australian generation as we acclaim and hold the bravery of the servicemen and women with the highest regard.
“The efforts of the young men on the shores of Gallipoli and their eternal legacy motivates us to have the courage and initiative to persist through our own times of treachery and trepidation.
“Today, with the submerging effects of the ongoing pandemic, fires, floods and threat of European war heavily disrupting the lives of many, our nation has looked to the men and women behind the ANZAC legacy as worthy and inspirational role models in a society of grievance and hardship.
“The ANZAC spirit is an inner strength of our nation that cannot be diminished and in times of despair and angst, it encourages us to continue with our heads held high and to protect the lifestyle that the tireless efforts of the ANZACs granted us.”
Sacred Heart College’s second captain Ethan Lay focused on the act of remembering and how by doing so we can really relate our trials and tribulations to those that fought at war for our country.
“On the cold early morning of April 25, 1915, the Australian soldiers made their first landing on what is now known as ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli,” Ethan said.
“Remembering. Remembering is when you take time to reflect on the past. Remembering is when you acknowledge sacrifice.
“Remembering is learning from our past and being grateful for the bravery and courage of our brothers and sisters, past and present, who represented our country with utmost pride and dignity.
“We pay our respects to them, remembering them as young lionhearts who fought to protect and serve our nation with strength, bravery, and honour.
“Although our generational distance from war may be large, the ANZAC legacy left behind stands larger.
“As we stand here today, we commemorate all of our Australian heroes, who made sacrifices that protected families, friends, and the freedom of our country.
“We learn from the events of the war, and we understand that the youths of their time fought so that ours don’t have to.
“We honour our fallen brothers and sisters, who fought for the purpose of peace against the forces of violence. Who endured pain and difficulty so that our generation can live in harmony and togetherness.
“May we remember them through the ANZAC spirit, now and forever.”
Captain of Yarrawonga College P-12 Suzy Levesque spoke of what ANZAC Day means to her and the emotions it emits.
“ANZAC day, a day that touches the lives of every Australian, bringing us together, a day of remembrance and a day of respect to those Australians and New Zealanders who showed bravery, courage, resilience and mate-ship that forged the ANZAC legend,” Suzy said.
“ANZAC day has always held a special place in my heart, it is a day that brings up so many mixed emotions and a time of reflection.
“One of the emotions that does stands out for me, is the same feeling you get when you watch the Aussies take out a gold medal, or you achieve a goal you have worked so hard for. “It makes me feel proud, proud to be called an Aussie.
“In times of hardship instead of turning their backs, they stuck by one another, fought together, and helped one another out.
“These values of resilience and mateship are core values that makes us Australian. Values that I and many other Australians are lucky enough to experience everyday due to these brave men and woman who formed the ANZAC legend.
“It is because of the supreme sacrifice that so many have given, that I can stand here today from a position of privilege and comfort and talk about my feelings of what ANZAC day truly means to me.”
Fellow Yarrawonga College P-12 Captain Tiare Wilson spoke of the connections of the local community to the ANZACs and how it is important to sacrifice some sleep and endure the cold to pay our respects.
“As we stand watching the sunrise, I invite you to think about what ANZAC day means to you,” Tiare said.
“For many, it is a day to spend with family and watch the football. But, for those of us standing here today, it is also a day to reflect and recognise the unimaginable sacrifices others have made for our country.
“Every year my family, like many others, get up at this early hour and make their way to a dawn service to remember these sacrifices that ensure the safety and freedom that we appreciate today.
“Suzy and I have attended many ANZAC Day services in Yarrawonga. Throughout these, our community has stood listening and paying their respects, even, at times, through relentless wind and rain.
“Whilst incomparable to what the ANZACs endured, this glimpse at their reality shows our community exhibiting the four qualities of the ANZAC – courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice.
“Despite the catastrophic events that occurred on the 25th of April in 1915, the Australian community continues to come together, despite whatever adversities we may face, and express our gratitude to the men and women of the Australian armed forces past, present and future while honouring those who have lost their lives at war.”
After the dawn service the well loved tradition of the gunfire breakfast was held at ClubMulwala before many made their way to the Mulwala march and service at 9.30am and the Yarrawonga commemorations from 11am.
Services by the Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Subbranch were also held at Karana Aged Care and Woods Point Aged Care last Friday whilst Lake Rowan and St James held their commemorations on Sunday.
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