“These names behind me on the cenotaph; you may not know their names, but you can rest assured they were courageous and they paid the ultimate sacrifice. We will never forget them. Men and women from this town, this community.
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“Today we do not celebrate, we commemorate. We do not rejoice, but we remember and we respect. To all those who have served and are serving. We thank you.”
That was the parting message of Edward River’s Anzac Day guest speaker Dean Robertson as he addressed the 11am service at Deniliquin on Thursday.
Mr Robertson grew up in Deniliquin and joined the Australian Defence Force after graduating from Deniliquin High School in the late 1980s.
Starting first with the Australian Army Aviation Corps for basic training, he later joined the Royal Australian Air Force and retired as Squadron Leader in 2010.
With a crowd of veterans, emergency services, school children and members of the public hanging on his every word, Mr Robertson spoke of the origins of the ANZAC and of the importance the name and its spirit carries.
A term first coined 109 years ago to acknowledge the contribution of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps to World War I, it has expanded to honour anyone from the two countries who serve their country in the defence forces.
“Today, the talk of that ANZAC legacy that is followed through generations of Australians and individual servicemen, defining our character with words such as mateship, endurance, courage and sacrifice,” he said.
“In essence, these characteristics say that we are people who, in adverse situations, are strong, look out for each other and are prepared to put ourselves before oneself.
“We defend those who can't defend themselves. And we help to rebuild.
“Australian troops, once deployed in foreign lands, are not always war fighting.
“More importantly, the Australian military, once deployed overseas, is often to aid, educate and rebuild.”
Mr Robertson said Anzac Day services are held for a few main reasons - to acknowledge those who served and sacrificed their lives in service of the nation, to reflect on how service and sacrifice has contributed to what and who we are as a nation today, and to understand what our response should be to their legacy.
“It is a collective, active remembrance, reflection and gratitude. One carried out by multiple generations of Australians.
“While so much has changed in warfare since (the origins of the ANZACS), the great character of the Australian soldier has not.
“No matter where our troops are, they carry out their missions with professionalism, discipline and integrity.
Their service honours the ANZAC tradition and our nation as a whole every day. Their responsibilities weigh heavily on their shoulders.
“They just don't carry physically. More importantly, we must recognise the psychological scars that many veterans carry. And they need our undying support.
“The memorials we have built and symbols we have adopted to commemorate a role of war - not as conquerors, but as defenders - speaks volumes about our great country.
“We do not boast about our victories because we know that they came at a great cost to us and others.
“We choose to stand as one in a moment of silent contemplation. We respect, but we do not hero worship our military leaders.
“This Anzac Day, thank the men and women who have and are serving; those who have brought and bring us hope in times of despair, despite the loss of life and despite the carnage.
“They come to honour and respect their foes. And their foes have honoured and respected the ANZACs.”
Mr Robertson was also guest speaker at the Wanganella service on Thursday morning.
Other local commemorative activities included the laying of poppies and rosemary at the Deniliquin War Cemetery, a morning service at the Deniliquin Airport’s No. 7 Service Flying Training School memorial, and Murray River Council Anzac Day services at Mathoura, Moama and other communities.
Senior journalist