General News
2 May, 2026
A time of reflection and remembrance
WITH darkness emanating across Beaufort’s Memorial Gardens on Anzac morn, the sombre feel of the occasion resonated with all in attendance. From the returned soldier to the young teen; from the old timer to the new resident; all came together on 25 April, Anzac Day, to pay their respects and to honour those who lost their lives.
The Cenotaph, lit as a beacon of reflection, and the flicker of lights from the Field of Poppies highlighting the wording Anzac, together with the haunting sounds of the bagpipes entering the Avenue of Remembrance, created a moment for deep reflection. A crowd of well over 100 gathered for the 6am service. Whilst the chill was in the air, the weather was fine—no rain or wind; a perfect morning for such a service.
Later in the day, with the sun shining and a breeze fluttering the Australian and New Zealand flags, several hundred gathered again. At the completion of the Anzac Day March from the RSL along Willoby to Lawrence Street and then onto Neill Street, marchers made their way to the Memorial Gardens to take their place in the service. The importance of marching along the main avenue of Beaufort was evident, with the Western Highway closed to traffic for the duration of the march.
The gathering honoured not only locals, but all who served. While originally recognising those who fought on Gallipoli, Anzac Day has become an occasion to honour all who have worn our country’s uniform in service.
Guest speaker Beaufort resident and former Warrant Officer Class One Mark Richardson, who served for forty years in the Australian Army, spoke with great passion about the place of Anzac Day in our lives and our community. He reminded those present that this year marks the 110th anniversary of the first Anzac Day Memorial Ceremony.
“Australia once again turns to the 25 April to honour those who have lost their lives,” he said. “Today is a national day to honour those who have fallen, those who have served and those who have sacrificed so much for this country.”
He reflected that while some say Anzac Day is about celebrating war, “I say, no we do not. We celebrate the lives of those that we lost and honour the service and sacrifice of all those that have served.”
In his address, he spoke of more than one hundred thousand Australian servicemen and women who have lost their lives in military operations carried out in our country’s name. He honoured the values of the original Anzacs—loyalty, selflessness and courage—and the ways in which later generations have measured their own achievements against those who served.
He brought the message closer to home through the stories of three local World War I servicemen—Porter Robert Ellis, George Maher and William Arthur Morris—who lived in the Beaufort district and farewelled family and friends at the Beaufort Railway Station before leaving for the unknown life ahead in war.
Porter Robert Ellis, a single farmer from Woodend in the district, enlisted at the age of 28 in February 1916. After training, he embarked from Melbourne and was later sent to the front lines in northern France. He was reported missing on 19 July 1916, less than a month after arriving, and was later declared killed in action. He has no known grave, and his name is inscribed on the Australian Memorial at Fromelles, France.
George Maher, a 39-year-old labourer from Neill Street, enlisted in February 1916. He was killed in action on 18 August 1916 at Mouquet Farm, Pozieres, France. He also has no known grave and is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
William Arthur Morris, a 22-year-old school teacher from Main Lead, enlisted in April 1916. He served in France and was wounded on three separate occasions. After being discharged as medically unfit, having lost the use of his legs, he returned to Australia. He died in 1924 as a result of his wounds, aged just 30, and is buried at Streatham Cemetery.
As Mr Richardson stated, “their sacrifice allowed us to build the nation we are today and their service protects the nation we are building for tomorrow.”
A very special wreath laying ceremony followed, with a diversity of organisations including local schools and community groups laying wreaths on the steps of the Cenotaph, along with poppies and rosemary placed by individuals. The Beaufort Municipal Band provided musical accompaniment to the service.
At the conclusion of the dawn service, many gathered at the RSL Hall for a gunfire breakfast of egg and bacon toasties and tea or coffee, while after the later service attendees were invited back for a light luncheon provided by the Lilyana CWA branch.
Across both services, the community came together—to honour, to remember, and to thank those who served our country to make it one where we enjoy the freedoms we value today.
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