“We have never forgotten them, and we never will. Lest we forget.” That’s how Sacred Heart College Year 2021 co-captain Brody Benjamin concluded the co-captains’ address at last Wednesday’s 2020 Remembrance Day Service at Memorial Wall ClubMulwala.
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Brody, and college co-captain Annie Robilliard combined to deliver an excellent Remembrance Day address.
Year 2020 has been an unprecedented year due to the coronavirus pandemic with many restrictions, including only 100 people allowed to attend Remembrance Day services.
The three-figure gathering resulted well before the 11.00am introduction by Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Sub-Branch President Ian Summers, especially with recent increased delays at the traffic bridge border checkpoint getting into NSW.
Remembrance Day Service attendees could not help but be inspired by today’s youth speaking at such an important occasion.
“At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare,” was how Annie commenced her address.
“With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice (r-miss-tis), bringing to an end the First World War.
“They had achieved a fighting reputation out of proportion to their numbers, but victory had come at a heavy cost. They suffered almost 48,000 casualties during 1918, including more than 12,000 dead.
“Yet their selflessness at the darkest of times has set them apart for eternity in our nation’s consciousness.”
Examples of the bravery, Annie said, included Andrew Gillison, a chaplain, who heard cries coming from No Man’s Land while in a trench at Gallipoli.
“Despite having been warned about the snipers, he tried to crawl out to rescue the wounded soldier that was calling him. He knew the risks he was facing, but he knew that it was the right thing to do, and he lost his life for it,” she said.
“Alice Chisholm, a mother of five, sailed to Egypt to be near her son who had been wounded. She stayed to set up food canteens and shelters for Allied troops serving the Middle East, and after the war she supported our diggers by establishing a Returned Soldiers Club in Goulburn.
“William Rawlings, a horse trainer from near Warrnambool, risked his life to clear a path for his fellow infantrymen during an attack at Morlancourt on the Western Front.”
Brody spoke of the choice to “commit to a purpose greater than your fear, to live for others even when to do so is unimaginably hard and the cost is extreme”.
“Tragically, the hardships continued past the Great War,” he said. “From the beaches of Gallipoli, the deserts of Egypt, the mud of the Som, the jungles of New Guinea, the death marches from Sandakan, Australians have faced the very worst.
“Today, in this place, let us listen, let us open our hearts again and hear their stories, and draw upon their inspiration through these difficult times we currently live in. Draw upon their strength and come to a realisation that yes, the past year has been hard, and isolating, but it is only a fraction of the pain our soldiers have endured across the past century.
“We can hear sounds of landing boats quietly rowing ashore. We hear the deafening hum of the engines of the Lancaster bomber flying over the English Channel. We hear the helicopters in Vietnam, the crunch of snow underfoot on patrol in Korea and the detonation up ahead of another IED, while rolling along in a bushmaster in Afghanistan, far beyond the wire.
“From every conflict and every time, we hear them all.
“They are as much a part of Australia today as when the first Anzacs put on their uniform.”
Year 2020 has been particularly tough, with restrictions preventing many aspects of normal life including many freedoms – freedoms resulting from brave and gallant efforts of our ex-servicemen and women.
With COVID-19 restrictions preventing double digit numbers at funerals, for example, Mr Summers said: “I think it would be appropriate to remember those of our comrades who have passed away in the last 12 months.” Ringing of the bell followed each roll call name: Andrew Scotland RAAF, John Pearce Army, Brian Cooper RAAF, Ken Williams Army, John Eardley Army, Terry Christie Army, Dorothy Hay, Affiliate.
The sub-branch president was full of praise for the 2021 Sacred Heart College co-captains, telling them: “As young people you can stand very proud as great ambassadors for your school and the townships of Yarrawonga and Mulwala, and districts. You have displayed dignity, compassion and maturity beyond your years.”
Appreciation was also expressed by Mr Summers to all who participated in the service, which included last year’s senior cadet warrant officer with Wangaratta Cadet Unit, Yarrawonga’s Brooklyn Dowling with her response ‘We Shall Keep The Faith’ following RSL Sub-Branch Secretary Brian Cossar OAM’s delivery of ‘In Flanders Field’ and evergreen John Duncan’s singing of the Royal Hymn, and the National Anthems of New Zealand and Australia.
Mr Summers thanked everyone for their patience and understanding “in this difficult year”, adding: “I just hope we can move on from here and have a normal 2021.”