AS was the case in Bombala, very big crowds gathered for both the Dawn and 11am services in Delegate on Saturday, with the community and its visitors eager to honour the Centenary of Anzac.
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Armed forces representatives, Lieutenant Commander Roy Arthur and Petty Officer Walter Baumhammer came from Canberra to attend the Delegate services, while the Air Force was represented by a new resident to the area, Flight Lieutenant Michael Brady.
Students of the Delegate Public School sang at the later ceremony, while a visiting troupe of Boy Scouts attended the Dawn Service, and young locals, piper Will Horton and drummer Noah Cole headed the march.
Janine Jamieson of the Bombala High School gave the Anzac Address, reflecting on her own family’s history and that of the Delegate community and its involvement in World War I.
“In 1916, the Men from Snowy River March began on the 6th January, in Delegate, ending on the 28th of January, in Goulburn. Their march has been recently remembered in Natalie Armstrong’s book. In this she explains that she first became aware of this march in 1988, when it was arranged for the original flag, which had been kept in Delegate, to be handed over to the Australian War Memorial,” Janine said.
“I feel strongly about this because of my sense of connection to this part of our town’s history.”
(An excerpt of Janines speech will appear in next week’s Bombala Times).
Further marking the Centenary of Anzac, 17 wreaths were made for each of the 17 Delegate area men who fought at Gallipoli, and where possible these were laid by their descendants.
Three generations of the Dudley family were in attendance, and great grandson, Mark read out snippets of Bill Dudley’s war diary which spoke of the landing at Gallipoli.
Bill was from Bendoc, and was shot seven times at Gallipoli, somehow surviving to return home and become the first enlisted man to reach commissioned rank in the police force, becoming Superintendent at Goulburn.
This is of course just one amazing story that was told on the day in Delegate.
Breakfast was shared at the Delegate Hotel after the Dawn Service, while a special luncheon was attended by 72 people at the Country Club, enjoying good company, food and music - and of course a few rounds of two-up!
A book that was penned locally especially for the centenary titled ‘Delegate & District Gallipoli Men’ was sold out on the day, with many orders also being taken due to the great interest shown.
Copies can still be arranged through sandra.taylor6@bigpond.com or 6458 8028.
