A HOT sun beat down on the crowd that assembled for our local Remembrance Day Ceremony last Wednesday, but heads were held high as the community took the opportunity to honour those who have served our country.
A group of almost 200 local residents and school children gathered at the Bombala Cenotaph for the traditional November 11 service, with Bombala RSL Sub-Branch President, Rob Letts giving welcome.
Mr Letts opened with how many years ago our major conflicts began, and pointed out that today our men and women still serve at war and in peacekeeping operations around the world.
Father Mick Macandrew offered the reflection of the ceremony, blessing the gathering and commenting that we can stay close to those who sacrificed themselves for our freedom by choosing to do what is right, true and good.
The Prologue came from Mr Letts himself, who spoke of the Battle of Fromelles in France in 1916, and the remains of 230 Australian soldiers that were recently found there.
The battle is considered Australia’s worst military disaster, and each soldier found will be buried with full military honours at a new war grave cemetery being built at Fromelles.
Mr Letts reminded the gathering that Remembrance Day is not a glorification of war, but an opportunity to reflect on those who have served our country, especially those who paid the supreme sacrifice.
“We especially remember those Australians who have been killed, those injured and those serving today in that harsh war zone in Afghanistan,” Mr Letts said.
“They are Australian like you and me, except they have volunteered to go into harm’s way.
“Our task is to support them over there, remember them, and especially to thank them when they come home.”
This led to the wreath laying of the ceremony, with a large number of community groups and individuals presenting flowers to honour and remember those who have given their lives in service at any point in Australia’s history.
With the Sub-Branch itself, Bombala Council, the schools present and many others following this tradition, it was then time for Curtis Murray of the Bombala High School to make the Remembrance Day Address.
Curtis gave a particularly stirring address, pointing out that our first service personnel could not possibly have known how profoundly they would shape our nation.
The values of mateship, loyalty, courage, strength, humour in adversity and an unwillingness to give into despair or hardship were all cited by Curtis as parts of the Australian character these soldiers helped form.
“As my own brother prepares for his second deployment to Afghanistan, I think of the anguish my family goes through when he is away, and I cannot help but think of the young men, many my own age, who volunteered to go to war in 1914,” Curtis said.
“Imagine all those young people crowded onto troop ships, climbing down rope ladders to be towed ashore only to face the waiting enemy.”
Curtis pointed out that we have been given the opportunity of freedom, and that we should honour those who fought for us.
As part of the commemoration, Mr Letts then asked that on this particular Remembrance Day the gathering think of Trooper Allan Leslie Witts and Private Gordon Thomas Callaughan who passed away since the community last gathered at the cenotaph.
The ceremony officially commemorated the fallen through the sounding of the Last Post, a two minute silence, the recitation of The Ode by students from the Bombala Public School, and the playing of Reveille.
The final prayer and blessing by Father Mick brought the ceremony to its conclusion, with the Rotary and Community Choir leading the gathering in the National Anthem as Mr Letts invited all to gather again in peace for the Commemoration of Anzac Day in 2010.
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