Remembering them

A COMMITTED group of veterans, families and community members gathered for Murwillumbah’s Remembrance Day ceremony on Monday this week, presented by the RSL and Murwillumbah Public School.

On a steamy morning in the shade at the entrance of the RSL Club, a series of speakers led by Mr Derek Sims included dignitaries, veterans, RSL members and school students, telling the stories of the fallen and survivors of successive wars.

Paying homage were Murwillumbah Public School’s (MPS) school captains and the school choir led by music teacher Vikki Armour.

The Murwillumbah Primary School choir performed In Flanders Fields and Abide with Me. Former student Emily Walton movingly performed The Last Post and The Rouse.

Principal Les Daley said the MPS had been involved with the RSL for over 20 years.

“We continue to look forward to working with our community in the future, ensuring mutual respect and trust for our younger and older generations,” he said.

Long-time MPS teacher, choir director and daughter of a veteran, Vikki Armour, displayed an array of medals at the ceremony on behalf of her late father, Eric Campbell (Butch) Lawther and was presented with a medallion at the ceremony.

“The medals were awarded to my father, who served in the Australian Army for 36 years,” Armour said.

“Some of the medals were for active service in World War II in Borneo and New Guinea for his service in the Korean War, where he was a 3RAR veteran of the Battle of Kapyong, and one is for the American Presidential Unit Citation awarded to the battalion in the same battle.

“This medallion is awarded to World War II veterans for their service, and the Murwillumbah RSL is distributing them on behalf of the government to local veterans,” she said.