The Remembrance Day service held at the Orbost Cenotaph on Saturday was well attended, especially given the 30+ degree heat that was experienced.
Hats were worn and shade was sought before a brief but moving service was conducted by the Orbost RSL Sub-branch president, Sandra Porteous.
Rex Solomon opened the service with a Welcome to Country before Sandra led the major proceedings apart from Reverend Bevil Lunson, the RSL chaplain who gave the prayer and was the lead vocalist of the hymn O God, Our Help in Ages Past.
Sandra recited her speech from the ANZAC portal.
“The First World War was in its time the most destructive conflict yet experienced by humanity,” she said.
“When it began in August 1914, few imagined the course that it would take, or foresaw its terrible toll. From a population of just under five million, more than 400,000 Australians enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force – the AIF, the force that Australia sent to the war – and more than 330,000 served overseas.
“For most this meant Gallipoli, the Middle East or the war’s main theatre: the Western Front in France and Belgium.
IMAGE: Sharon Kurrle brought her grandchildren, Sadie and Chester Morrison, to the 11am Remembrance Day service at the Orbost Cenotaph last Saturday. A strong crowd gathered in blistering spring heat to pay their respects.
