Anzac spirit well and truly alive in Kyabram

By Jemma Jones

Apr 28, 2024

Large crowd: The Kyabram Memorial Gardens were filled on the morning of April 25, as people came together to pay their respects on Anzac Day. Photos: Nikala Dixon Photo by Nikala Dixon

Kyabram residents, visitors, community groups and veterans gathered in the memorial gardens on the morning of April 25 to pay respects to the Anzacs in a service organised by the Kyabram RSL.

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The service began with the thump of drums played by Adrian Miller and Tom Duckworth and a march from Fenaughty St to Allan St under the yellow trees of the memorial walk led by Navy veteran Terry Williams and straddled by flag bearers Bob and Ian Troy.

Under the autumn trees: Veterans, current serving officers, families and community groups walked behind two light horses and flag-bearering brothers Bob and Ian Troy. Photo by Nikala Dixon

Two horses from the 8th Indie Light Horse led by Staff Sergeant Ewen McLean guided the large pack of veterans and their families, former and current army, air force and navy officers and community groups towards the large crowd waiting in Memorial Gardens.

About 600 people gathered, either sitting in chairs provided by the Kyabram RSL, or standing around the park’s edges.

United in respect: About 600 people gathered in Kyabram’s Memorial Gardens to commemorate and thank the fallen soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Photo by Nikala Dixon

RSL chair David Blake welcomed the attendees, and a flyover was conducted by the Echuca Flying Club, with a pack of five planes in formation before one split off, symbolising the soldiers who did not make it home from war.

What followed was an emotional service with guest speakers Kristy Williams, who led the prayer; Kyabram P-12 College captain Marissa Watt and St Augustine’s College captain Ethan Ciavarella, who read speeches about the importance of Anzac Day; RSL member Clive Toms, who read the Anzac Requiem; and Sgt McLean.

Tradition: The annual flyover, conducted by the Echuca Flying Club, symoblised a troop of soldiers side by side in formation, where one soldier will not make it home, visualised through one plane splitting from the group. Photo by Nikala Dixon

Sgt McLean, a member of the 18th Victorian Mounted Rifles Light Horse Troop and who mounted one of the Light Horses during the march, read a tear-jerking speech written from the perspective of a horse in the war.

RSL member Chris Hunter led the service through the hymns O God Our Help in Ages Past and Onward Christian Soldiers.

Audiences were treated to the voice of Kyabram local Izaiyah Ryan singing a rendition of I Am Australian originally sung by Bruce Woodley of The Seekers and Dobe Newton of the Bushwackers.

Guest speaker: Staff Sergeant Ewen McLean treated audiences to a moving speech written from the perspective of a horse on the battleground. Photo by Nikala Dixon

Kyabram RSL president Greg O’Connell read The Ode before The Last Post played.

The flags were lowered to half-mast by Rick Graves and his son Nathan, who commemorated the late Jack Graves, before returning the flags to the top of the flag pole.

Attendees were invited to complimentary tea, coffee and a sausage sizzle provided by the Kyabram Rotary and Lions clubs with The Kyabram Club.