We will remember them

By Lachlan Ellis

Just like the guns on the Western Front on November 11, 1918, Moorabool fell silent at 11 am last Friday, as hundreds of residents honoured those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Bacchus Marsh’s ceremony was broadcast live by Apple 98.5 FM’s van right next to the stage at the Village Green, with songs playing before the ceremony began.

An introduction by Bacchus Marsh RSL Secretary Carl Wright, and a Welcome to Country by Dean Petrov, was followed by the RSL’s first rendition of ‘God Save the King’ in quite some time.

‘The Ode’ followed a blessing and the Lord’s Prayer guided by Pastor Scott James, then bugler John Mansfield played the Last Post, with the crowd of over a hundred marking a minute’s silence as the clock struck 11am.

After ‘The Rouse’ from the bugle and the national anthem, Mr Wright read out a poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’, before the ceremony concluded with the laying of wreaths.

A long list of local schools, dignitaries, service people, and organisations paid their respects to the fallen by laying wreaths, including but certainly not limited to, Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Pentland PS, Bacchus Marsh PS, St Bernard’s Parish PS, Darley PS, Deputy Mayor Cr Tonia Dudzik, Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle, Bacchus Marsh Police, Rotary, and the CWA.

While Remembrance Day was originally created to honour those who died in the First World War, including more than 60,000 Australians, today it also honours the heroes who gave their lives in all wars and armed conflicts.