Bugle blown for fallen servicepeople

THE sun peeked behind clouds, but chilly conditions did nothing to deter hundreds of attendees from paying their respects during this morning’s Anzac Day service at the Ballarat Arch of Victory.

The event was organised by the Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour committee, and paid tribute to select Ballarat servicemen.

“Our service today focuses particularly on 17 Ballarat men commemorated in out Avenue of Honour who have no known grave,” said Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour committee president Garry Snowden.

“They’re remembered on lesser known or less visited memorials in other parts of the world. We always like to remember some of our soldiers by name at this service.

“There’s Jack Messenger who was the first Ballarat serviceman to die in the war, in a submarine lost off New Guinea, he’s on a memorial in England.

“George Merz, the first Australian airman to die in the war, he’s on a memorial in Iraq. We like to ensure our service has a real Ballart flavour.

“It’s good for us all to reflect on the freedom we have today which might not be the case if those men and women weren’t prepared to serve in years gone by.”

The committee’s Jeremy Johnson served as MC while the names of the service’s 17 servicemen were read out by two Ballarat High School students.

Piper, Sue Brandt performed from the recently reconstructed Memorial Wall Rotunda while attendees laid wreaths nearby.

A wreath laying ceremony was held as well as performance of The Ode and The Last Post alongside a silent remembrance.

This year’s highlighted servicemen included Alfred Briant, John Cuthbert, James Galbally, Arthur Hughes, Ernek Janssen, Albert King, Charles Lucas, William McCarey, John McDonald, Albert Paulig, Alfred Possingham, Charles Richards, Lawrence Tait, Walter Waller, and Harry Williams.

Winter Valley’s Laraine Squires has been attending Anzac Day services for about 30 years and said it’s important to honour the sacrifices Australian and New Zealand soldiers made during World War One.

“For as long as we’ve lived here, we go to one,” she said. “I had relatives like great uncles involved in the war. Same with my husband.

“It’s very important and I’m glad to see the young people getting involved. It’s an important day for everybody and we need to keep honouring them.”

Wreaths were laid at the arch’s memorial wall by Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour committee representatives, government representatives, primary school students and community members.

The event took place following the dawn service at the Ballarat Cenotaph and Ballarat RSL Midlands Golf Club where the Anzac Day march was also held from 10.30am.

Services also took place at Buninyong Memorial Park, and the Sebastopol and Miners Rest cenotaphs, with a wreath laying held at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial at Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Members of the Cardigan and Windermere Fire Brigade also held a wreath laying at the Fireman’s memorial on Remembrance Drive.

Refreshments and games of two-up are to be had at Ballarat RSL Midlands Golf Club from 1pm this afternoon.