Venue: The Moama Cenotaph will be the location for tomorrow’s Remembrance Day service.
Photo by
Alexander Dabb
Moama’s Remembrance Day Services are seeing a resurgence of interest, with numbers attending on the rise every year – and tomorrow’s is expected to be the same.
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Moama RSL sub-branch president Ken Jones said public interest in, and support of, Remembrance Day has been growing steadily, with as many as 100 people or more turning out.
He said one of the most pleasing things about the resurgence of Remembrance Day is the involvement of younger people, and local schools.
“Every RSL member appreciates seeing young people wanting to be part of this link with our country’s military history, and by wearing family medals on the right side of their chest, is a wonderful sign of awareness, and we hope of pride and respect,” Mr Jones said
“The Moama RSL Service will be held at the Moama Cenotaph at 10.45am for an 11am, start.
“That will include the Prayer to the Fallen, the Last Post, the Ode and Reveille.”
Mr Jones said this year’s guest speaker will be newly elected Murray River Council Mayor Frank Crawley.
“Remembrance Day is a traditionally short service, about 20 minutes, and that is part of its appeal,” he said.
“It has a simple message of sacrifice, of a debt owed by those of us here today, and of course the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month has always had a certain drama and yes, relief about it.
“And we invite anyone who wishes to lay a wreath to join us for that part of the Service – you don’t have to be with an organisation, anyone who wants to thank all those who have gone before us is more than welcome.”
In 1914, Australia had a population of fewer than five million, yet 416,809 men would enlist, of which 218,000 would become casualties, including 62,000 killed.
In the first year of the war soldiers had to be aged between 18 and 35 – although that was increased to 45 in 2015.
Service: Echuca RSL sub-branch's Stephen Harris, Maggie Stewart, Denis Shanahan, Fred Clark and Ron Wood on Remembrance Day in 2022.
Photo by
Gregor Mactaggart
Enlistment, which was voluntary for the entire war, saw a staggering 38.7 per cent of all Australian males, in uniform.
More than 3000 women also enlisted in the armed forces but tens of thousands of others served in agriculture and industry to help keep the Australia war effort going and to fill in for the men fighting.
Echuca RSL will be holding its Remembrance Day Service at its Cenotaph on the corner of Hare and Heygarth streets, also at 10.45am for an 11am start.
The public is also invited to lay wreaths there as well.
People attending both services are reminded of the high temperatures expected and appropriate precautions should be taken.
9°C