By Melissa Grant
A SOLID crowd of more than 100 people paid their respects to the nation’s fallen heroes at Tynong’s mid-morning Anzac Day service.
Australian traditions of mateship and volunteering were emphasised during the gathering at the town’s memorial.
St Thomas Aquinas College students treated the crowd to renditions of Australia and New Zealand’s national anthems, and Joseph Ockerse, for the third year in a row, played the Last Post.
School captain Jacinta Murnane spoke about Anzac Day from a youth perspective.
“The 25th of April is a day we all know and going to the cenotaph at dawn is how we show,” she said.
“When kids hear Anzacs they think of bickies and slice but it was probably their grandparents who had to pay the price.”
Major Bernie Gaynor, of the Royal Australian Artillery, said it was important to pay homage to those who had made the ultimate sacrifice.
He said 5,533 members of the Fifth Australian Division sent to Gallipoli were killed, wounded or missing within 24 hours.
“Those blokes are all gone, God bless them, may they rest in peace,” Maj Gaynor said.
He also spoke about other conflicts Australians had been involved in, including WWII where soldiers fought to protect the nation.
“22,000 Australians went into the hands of the Japanese and there are only 800 left,” he said.
Maj Gaynor said war was ugly, regardless of where it was being fought – including recent destinations of Somalia, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.
“They sound romantic and exotic. I’ve been to a couple but wouldn’t pay money to go (back) there,” he said.
Maj Gaynor said “volunteer spirit” was a salient aspect of Australian character, exhibited in World War I.
“Some people say we aren’t what we used to be, but I’d suggest that’s not entirely correct,” he said.
Maj Gaynor said this spirit was still alive, as shown by the response to the Black Saturday firestorm.
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson agreed.
“Traditions of mateship and volunteering are things that are embedded in the Australian psyche and tradition of Australia,” he said.
Maj Gaynor urged locals to keep the Anzac spirit alive by volunteering for the CFA, St John Ambulance, sports clubs and schools.
The Bunyip RSL also hosted services in Bunyip and Garfield on Anzac Day, with a combined attendance of almost 500 people.
Nar Nar Goon RSL hosted a service at the town’s memorial, attended by more than 100 people, which was followed by a breakfast at the CFA.
