A moment to remember the fallen

TOMORROW is Remembrance Day, 11 November, and at tomorrow morning’s eleventh hour, people across Ballarat, the country, and eventually the world, will pause to recognise fallen servicepeople with a minute of silence.

The Arch of Victory-Avenue of Honour committee is leading their traditional annual service from 9.30am to 10am beside the Arch in Alfredton.

Every year, they focus on a different group of local servicepeople through storytelling and the reading of names.

“This year, we are remembering 13 Ballarat soldiers who saw the armistice and survived the war, much to the relief of their families at home, but for different reasons, like accidents, the flu epidemic, and conflict, died before they could make their way back to Australia,” said committee president Garry Snowden.

“These fellows were looking forward to getting home, and their families were looking forward to welcoming them home, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way.”

The men to be acknowledged by name are Frederick John Larter, Clifford Keith Davies, Norman Roy Austin, Harry Vivian Skelton Sleep, Francis Gordon Davis, Thomas Albert Lewis, Joseph Sampson, James O’Connor, and Thomas Grange Rowlands, Walter Stanley Dent, Patrick Maher, Alexander John Anderson, and John Burton Stewart.

“November the 11th, the armistice, was in effect a cease fire, and the war didn’t officially finish until June the following year with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles,” Mr Snowden said.

The Arch service is held at an earlier time to allow attendees to also be part of the Ballarat Cenotaph service at 11am, if they wish.

Those acknowledging Remembrance Day at the Arch may notice the iconic landmark is looking particularly fresh, following a thorough pressure-clean by City of Ballarat staff last month.

“The Arch is so frequently used as an image of Ballarat, and it’s so important that it’s clean, tidy, and looking its best,” Mr Snowden said.

Remembrance Day services this Friday, 11 November

Arch of Victory-Avenue of Honour Service.

9.30am to 10am, Memorial Wall, adjacent to the Arch of Victory, Sturt Street, Alfredton.

Ballarat RSL Service.

10.30am to 11.30am, Ballarat Cenotaph, Sturt Street, Ballarat.

The eastbound lanes of Sturt Street will be closed between Lyons and Dawson streets from about 10am until 12pm, and detours to Mair Street will be in place.

One westbound lane will stay open, with a reduced vehicle speed of 40 kilometres an hour. Traffic will not be able to cross Sturt Street at Lyons Street.

Buninyong RSL Service.

10.40am, Buninyong RSL Memorial Park, corner Warrenheip and Learmonth streets, Buninyong.

Creswick-Smeaton RSL Service.

10.40am, Creswick Cenotaph, Corner Raglan and Albert streets, Creswick.

Should the weather be wet, the service will be held at the RSL Hall, 60 Albert St, Creswick.

Ex-Prisoner of War Memorial Service.

11am to 11.45am, Ex-Prisoner of War Memorial, Carlton Street, Wendouree.

Sebastopol RSL Service.

10.50am, Sebastopol Cenotaph, located beside the library on Albert Street, Sebastopol.