On Remembrance Day morning a ceremony was held at the Yarrawonga Cemetery for the unveiling of memorial plaques to signify the final resting place of a number of local veterans.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
2573 Private Frederick Allison,
3688 Private Alexander Boyd,
2314 Private Edward Clark,
4211 Private Edward John Haley,
2475 Private Henry Pickering,
2413 Private John Warfe,
And 361 Captain Joseph Albert Wright.
Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Sub-Branch President John Burn spoke of the significance of these local veterans being acknowledged for their service.
“I know that these plaques will be welcomed by existing family descendants and community, especially those in the defence community both serving and past,” Mr Burn said.
“These seven men were fortunate to have survived the war of 1914 – 1918 and to have returned home to continue and complete their lives and who rested here in the Yarrawonga Cemetery in unmarked graves for several generations. Until now.
“Much more than just inscribed bronzed plates, these new plaques pay respect to our veterans and signify that as a community we care and appreciate their significant sacrifice.”
As well as holding a Remembrance Day service at the cemetery, the Yarrawonga Cemetery Trust had approached the Yarrawonga Lions Club to ascertain if they would be interested in supplying flag poles at the cemetery.
Lions unanimously agreed to proceed with this worthy request and in the matter of two weeks everything was put in place, poles purchased, painted, fitted, and duly erected.
At 11am a service was also held at the Memorial Wall at ClubMulwala with Sub-Branch Secretary David King introducing John Duncan to sing the Royal Hymn before the Last Post was played, a minute silence was observed, the Reveille played and the ODE to the fallen was read.
Subbranch Committee Member Scott Ansell then recited “In Flanders Fields” followed by a response of “We shall keep the faith” from former Cadet Brooklynn Dowling who said the RSL have been very helpful to herself over the years as she gave the last of the four speeches she has given at a commemoration ceremony before she joins the Airforce.
Yarrawonga College P-12 students Sophie O’Dwyer and Jack Bassett also gave their addresses before the contingency remembered those comrades who have passed away in the past 12 months and the Laying of Wreaths was conducted by a number of local organisations,
The service was completed with the singing of the national anthem of Australia and New Zealand whilst all those in attendance bowed their heads to those who fought for our nations.