“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
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Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Lest We Forget.
A passage we never forget – for those we never forget.
Today, April 25, we will pay our respects to the fallen across western Victoria.
We will keep you covered all day – check back here for all the coverage. We will have live videos, photos, reports and tweets. Keep scrolling.
ARARAT
SERVICE, 10.15am
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MARCH, 10am
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Ararat and district residents turned out in strong numbers on Wednesday for Ararat’s mid morning Anzac Day service.
A bright and sunny day greeted audience members for the ceremony to mark the last Anzac Day before the 100th anniversary of the November 11 armistice that ended World War One.
Hundreds of servicemen, police, emergency workers, community representatives and residents gathered at the Cenotaph which memorialises more than 400 people from the Ararat region.
The service’s guest speaker, former RSL State President Major General David McLoughlan AO (retired), spoke of the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, which occured 100 years ago to the day in Northern France.
“At this time, on this day 100 years ago in a small sheep farming village in France, the commanders of the 13th and 15th brigades were assessing the outcomes of the previous night’s action,” Mr McLoughlan said.
“They, with their brigades on the night before, had achieved an incredible result with the counterattack against the German forces that had captured and had occupied Villers-Bretonneux.
“They drove them out of the village and so started an entire new dimension: the conduct of the war on the Western Front.
“The young Australians is these brigades ,our forefathers from the cities and towns of our country, came together in an incredible crisis.”
Mr McLoughlan said the Australian soldiers on the Western Front had put aside their individual desires and ambitions to serve their country.
“In doing so, they denied the advancing German army access to and control of the vital rail hub at Amiens,” he said.
“By their deeds and feats at that time, they built on the proud heritage of Gallipoli, a tradition that is based on the human qualities that are the very fabric of to our nation, and indeed, vital to life itself.
“They continued the tradition compounded of courage, loyalty, faith. honesty, selflessness, determination and mateship
“A condition of moral as well as physical toughness; qualities we lump together in the term ‘the good old Aussie Spirit’.”
Members of Ararat’s Māori community were also invited to take part in the service to honour the trans-Tasman relationship that was forged in war.
The community members performed a haka traditional war dance as a mark of respect between Australia and New Zealand.
Darkie Biddle delivered a speech in Te Reo as well as English.
“We are here to pay our respects to soldiers past and present who have fought, or are fighting for, the lives we get to enjoy today,” Mr Biddle said.
“The Anzacs distinguished themselves with their courage and skill, thus establishing a strong and enduring bond between the Australian and New Zealand soldiers as they fought beside each other.
“Both countries suffered great losses during the Gallipoli Campaign, but they also showcased great bravery, tenacity, practicality, enginuity and loyalty.
“These qualities helped define themselves as Anzacs and the mutual respect earned during the fighting formed the basis of the close ties between our two countries.”
A march down Barkly Street preceded the service, which included Ararat City Band and a number of German Shepherds in honour of the military dogs who served beside Australian soldiers.
Wannon MP Dan Tehan attended the service and laid a wreath on behalf of the federal government.
Cr David Pettman and acting mayor Gwenda Allgood laid a wreath on behalf of Ararat Rural City.
To close off the ceremony, 50 pupils from primary schools across Ararat sung the New Zealand and Australian national anthems.
- Rex Martinich
DAWN SERVICE
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Hundreds of people have gathered at Ararat’s Cenotaph for the Anzac Day service.
Braving a cold but relatively clear early morning, attendees were greeted with a multimedia presentation of first-hand accounts from the Gallipoli landing before the service got underway at 6am.
Ararat City Band provided a musical prelude and bugler Geoff Morley performed the the Last Post and Reveille.
Ararat RSL president Frank Neulist told the audience that April 25 was the day, above all others, that Australia remembers its own soldiers and those from New Zealand who died or suffered in war.
“The Dawn Service has its origins in an operational routine still observed by the Australian Army today,” he said.
“The half light before dawn plays tricks on soldiers from the earliest times.
“With all its grey and misty shadows, it is most favoured for attack by the enemy, so defensive positions were manned by awake and alert troops.
“As the light crept across the battlefield this, and still is, known as ‘Stand To’.”
Mr Neulist said more than 60,000 Australians lost their lives in the First World War and 156,000 were left wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.
“Today we remember the 400 plus from Ararat that joined a far-off fight in foreign lands, some never to return,” he said.
“We hold this day, April 25, as the day that shaped our character and our destiny more than any other. On that day Australian and New Zealand troops landed under fire at Gallipoli, and it was then, and in the campaign that followed, that the Anzac tradition was forged.”
Mr Neulist said the Gallipoli campaign served as an inspiring example for generations of Australians.
“Each year we pay homage not only to those original Anzacs, but to all who died or were disabled in the service of our country,” he said.
“They enrich out nations history. Their hope was for the freedom of mankind and we remember them with pride.
“Their courage, their compassion and their comradeship.
“They served on land, sea and air in many places across the world.”
Mr Neulist said Australia currently had men and women serving overseas in conflict zones and asked the audience to welcome visiting militarily personnel and veterans to Ararat and show appreciation for their service.
Ararat RSL hosted a ‘gunfire breakfast’ after the dawn service.
- Rex Martinich
STAWELL
SERVICE, 11am
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About 500 people attended Stawell’s march – a similar amount to the dawn service this morning.
Some attendees were past and present service men and women, while many other attendees had relatives and friends who were.
Pettina Folks’ father served in Thursday Island during World War II.
“I have had a lot of family members in the war,” Ms Folks said.
Secretary of Stawell’s RSL Des Leonard did a six-month tour on HMAS Hobart during the Vietnam War.
“A lot of RSL veterans in Stawell are Vietnam veterans,” Mr Leonard said.
Ms Folks said “Anzac Day is a special day, especially for returned service men and women”.
- Alice Rennison
DAWN SERVICE
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Hundreds of people attended Stawell’s 100th Anzac Day Dawn Service this morning.
Stawell’s first Anzac Day commemorations were held in 1918, with the first Anzac Day commemorations starting in Australia in 1916.
Anzac Day is a day of national remembrance that commemorates the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died during battle at Gallipoli in 1915. It became a national public holiday in 1927.
Traditionally Dawn services were simple and followed the operational ritual. In many cases they were restricted to veterans only. The day ceremony was for families and other well wishes.
Attendees at Stawell’s Dawn Service today were of all ages, and even a dog attended, who came to commemorate Anzac Day.
After the Dawn Service, a Gun Fire breakfast was held at Stawell Entertainment Centre inside the Town Hall.
Many people attended the breakfast, where eggs, bacon, toast, tea, coffee and juice were served.
This year marks the 103rd year anniversary since Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli.
- Alice Rennison
GREAT WESTERN
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Great Western was out in full-force today to march and commemorative our Anzac heroes.
Gatherers reflected and remembered the past and present service men and women.
To reflect, two students from Stawell Secondary College spoke about the past, including the centenary of the battle of Villers-Bretonneux.
North of the French village Villers-Bretonneux, an intense battle was fought in 1918, as part of wider efforts to halt a German spring offensive.
On April 24, 1918 the Germans captured the town. Leading the British counter attack, the Australian 13th and 15th Brigades successfully cleared the town of Germans on the April 25, the third anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli.
The students also reflected on the upcoming centenary of the First World War armistice, later this year.
Over 100 visitors from NSW attended the commemorative service in Great Western, who were on tour through St James Railway Enthusiasts.
The focus of Great Western’s Anzac Day march and commemorative service was for Anzac Day to be for everyone.
“Anzac Day should be for everybody. A reflection and remembrance of those that have served for either peace and for our freedom way back then or for those who are serving now or have served,” a speaker said.
“Think of those who aren’t with us and not think so much of the tragedies they went through. But the type of people they were. And that’s what makes you smile.”
- Alice Rennison
WILLAURA
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SEE MORE: SUPPORT THE 2018 ANZAC APPEAL