A minute to remember sacrifice

THURSDAY is the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and at the eleventh hour, people will mark Remembrance Day, recognising fallen service men and women with a minute of silence.

Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps’ Corporal Darryl Slight is the Technical Quartermaster Sergeant of 8/7 Royal Victoria Regiment in Ballarat.

Paying his respects to both friends and family members, he said Remembrance Day is always significant for him as a returned fourth-generation serviceman.

“I’ve served on a number of operations; Op Okra in Iraq, border protection mission Op Resolute, Canberra Bushfire Assist, and came down to Ballarat from Brisbane last year for Op COVID-19 Assist,” he said.

“November the 11th means a lot to me. I can remember mates I’ve served with, places I’ve been with Australians and New Zealanders and my family’s service.

“I am one of a number of people in my family who have served in the Australian defence forces, from World War One to modern engagements.”

Corporal Slight encourages the community to think about their “freedoms and luxuries,” which can be linked to the service and sacrifices of Australian Defence Force personnel.

“We’ve kept the enemy at bay and served Australia’s interests overseas. You can live in peace, however you want, in a free democracy because of the hard work, blood, sweat and tears of our servicemen and women,” he said.

COVID safe Remembrance Day events will be held around the district. From 10.30am, services will be held at the Ballarat, Sebastopol, and Creswick cenotaphs, and at the Buninyong RSL Park from 10.40am.

Attendees over 16 will need to be fully vaccinated, and check in via QR codes. Masks will be mandatory where people cannot be 1.5 metres apart.

“It’s only one minute of silence on one day a year, so it would be great if everybody could take that time to remember their own families or loved ones who’ve served in the defence forces, those who are still serving, what they have to go through, or those still suffering after their armed service,” Corporal Slight said.