Indiana Lindrea, 3, the daughter of Justin and Tegan, clips a poppy onto the memorial gates at Wunghnu after the dawn service on Anzac Day.
More than a century after the sons of Australian farmers fell in battle, the citizens of Wunghnu have not forgotten.
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One of their own, William Henry Dudley, enlisted with the AIF at the age of 21 in 1915. He served with the 7th Infantry Battalion in France when he came under heavy fire between the trenches on the Western Front in 1917. He disappeared, believed killed, and his final resting place is known only to God.
His name, however, appears in stone on the gateways at the entrance to the Wunghnu Recreation Reserve, along with 15 others who gave the ultimate sacrifice in World War I.
More than 60 people, most of them from the small town of Wunghnu, turned out in the chill morning of Anzac Day, to give silent support to the event organised by the Wunghnu Voices committee.
The crowd included veteran Bill Fleming, who served in the army for 20 years with the Royal Australian Engineers, and Daniel Watson, who read the story of the Dudley family.
James Frederick Dudley was just 18 years and 11 months when he enlisted, and although shipped out to Egypt for training, was repatriated to Australia due to a severe illness.
He was the brother of William Dudley.
Mr Watson noted a soldier friend of William who wrote home to family telling of his friend’s death: “He was a fine, brave fellow well liked by everybody. A good clean living fellow and thorough gentleman.”
After the dawn service, the crowd enjoyed a “gunfire breakfast” at the recreation reserve pavilion, where a large Anzac-themed display had been created by Eileen Bowey and Kristine Healey. It included a collection of 98 Anzac biscuit tins assembled by Kristine, and dolls dressed in service uniforms from the collection belonging to Eileen.
Peter Malin speaks during the dawn service at Wunghnu.
A crowd of about 60 people attended the dawn service at Wunghnu.
Kristine Healey, with her collection of Anzac biscuit tins, on display following the Wunghnu dawn service.
Mia Reid, 5, and mum, Kim Reid, look at the Anzac Day display following the dawn service at Wunghnu.
Wunghnu school students placed a handmade wreath at the Wunghnu Recreation Reserve memorial gates on the eve of Anzac Day.
One of the bronze plaques that includes the name of William Dudley, at the entrance to the Wunghnu Recreation Reserve.
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