Large numbers gathered to remember those who have served in wars past and present, too many paying the ultimate sacrifice, with well-attended ANZAC Day dawn and mid morning services held across the region last Thursday.
Dawn services drew crowds in Orbost, Cann River and Mallacoota while mid morning ceremonies took place in Orbost, Bemm River, Cann River and Mallacoota. With many taking the opportunity to take holidays extending on from Easter, many visitors to the area joined in the local services to honour the fallen and show their appreciation for all who have served.
The Orbost dawn service included eight fully mounted members of the 13th Gippsland Light Horse Regiment, an impressive sight in the early hours of the day.
Guest speaker at both the dawn and mid morning Orbost services was Wing Commander Ashley Howell, of RAAF Base East Sale. At dawn he paid tribute to Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird whose actions he said, “are in keeping with the finest traditions of the ANZACs, through his very recent displays of heroism and sacrifice”.
Cpl Baird was born in Burnie, Tasmania, in 1981, and joined the Army in January 2000. In 2007, during his first of ultimately four tours of duty in Afghanistan, CPL Baird was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for a series of courageous actions while clearing and searching a Taliban stronghold.
It was during his fourth tour of Afghanistan in 2013 that he was fatally struck by enemy fire on June 22 of that year. His actions on this fateful day saw Cpl Baird posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice. He was the 100th recipient of Australia’s highest military honour and the first to be awarded posthumously since Vietnam. He was the fourth recipient of the Victoria Cross as a result of operations in Afghanistan and the 40th Australian to die from those operations.
Orbost Secondary College student, Taylah Russell, also addressed the dawn gathering, highlighting the importance of animals and their uses during times of conflict.
A gunfire breakfast was enjoyed by many at the Club Hotel following the dawn service.
Numbers at Orbost’s mid morning service were down slightly, despite an excellent dawn turnout. Wg Cdr Howell was once again guest speaker and continued the theme of animals in war, speaking in particular about military working dogs in supporting the Australian Defence Forces (ADF).
“Animals suffered and continue to suffer at least as much as their human masters during conflict,” he said.
He said military working dogs participated in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014. He noted that ADF personnel continue to serve today in Afghanistan albeit in smaller numbers.
“Since the introduction of explosive detection dogs in Afghanistan, eight have been killed in action with one missing in action,” Wg Cdr Howell said.
“To recognise their brave actions, a national military and service working dog monument was established at Wacol Queensland in 2012.”
The tradition of playing two-up continued at the Marlo Hotel and Orbost Club Hotel following the Orbost services.
Around 100 people attended the service at Luderick Point, Bemm River, which began with a march led proudly by local, Jack Fitzgerald, with gavel and flag.
Rhonda Gillard conducted the service with Kathy Delanty singing the national anthem.
A young eight-year-old girl holidaying in Bemm River volunteered to sing The Spirit of the ANZACs at the closing of the ceremony.
Ray and Deb Bowen served complimentary sandwiches at the Bemm River Hotel with Irish stew and refreshments on conclusion of the service.
The Bemm River Cenotaph has recently been installed with a heavy duty solar light so the flag is illuminated at night, compliments of the Bemm River Progress Association and local electrician, Dave Fitzgerald.
Those attending the dawn service in Cann River enjoyed a breakfast provided by local SES volunteers.
At the mid morning service Cann River RSL Sub-Branch president, David Morrison, spoke of the sacrifices made in conflict – the men, women and animals, speaking particularly of one nurse, Vivian Bullwintel, whose picture can be seen at the Lakes Entrance RSL.
In Mallacoota, guest speaker, Wing Commander Jesse Laroche, of East Sale RAAF Base, reflected on some of the men and women with whom he served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spoke of his French grandfather’s experience as a captain/resistance fighter who spent some of the war in a German concentration camp and his grandmother, a Dutch nurse, forced to choose between joining the German forces or joining the Red Cross (which she chose).
Wg Cdr Laroche also spoke of one of his corporals, a logistics supply clerk currently deployed to an air base in the Middle East.
“This man will spend six months working six to seven days a week where the average high temperature is 41 degrees. The corporal’s wife and children wait at home for him and they too are helping to serve this nation,” he said.
“The reason I mention this man specifically, is not just because he represents the many thousands of Australian men and service women who continue to serve our country, but because he and his wife only arrived in Australia about 15 years ago – from Turkey.
“So this is also a day of thanks and quiet reflection on what a wonderful, beautiful and lucky nation we live in. A nation where this Corporal can be proud to call himself Australian and serve overseas representing the Royal Australian Air Force and we can be proud to call him our mate.”
A service was also conducted last Wednesday by Orbost RSL Sub-Branch at Waratah Lodge where Joyce Trewin recited the poem, ANZAC Day, by WWII veteran, D. Hunter.
PICTURED: Leading the parade for the Orbost mid morning services was Orbost RSL Sub-Branch president, Dick Roebuck.
