Yea commemorates ANZAC Day

Image: The Yea Cenotaph, adorned with wreaths following the Yea ANZAC Day service.

PERFECT weather and what many considered a record attendance set the scene for a memorable ANZAC Day commemoration at the Yea Cenotaph.

Veterans, emergency service members and descendants wearing relatives’ service medals, marched into position at the flag poles to the tune Cock O’ The North by the Yea and High Country Pipes and Drums.

Emcee David Anderson then welcomed everyone and very professionally guided those present through the commemoration, which included everyone being invited to recite The Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant.

The covenant is in the Commonwealth Government Act that recognises the unique nature of military service and undertakes to preserve the memory and deeds of all who have served.

Elaine White delivered the ANZAC Requiem and Sub Lieutenant Damien Moana from the New Zealand Navy spoke on the importance of the ANZAC memory in New Zealand.

Glen Milliken recited The Ode, Piper Michelle Mussett played the lament Flowers of The Forest as wreaths were placed, Councillor Sue Carpenter led the Prayer of Remembrance and Grace Neville, with her beautiful singing, guided those present through the New Zealand and Australian national anthems.

This ANZAC Day, the commemoration remembered a local ANZAC who lost his life at Gallipoli and rests still in the Ari Burnu Cemetery, alongside other members of his unit, the 8th Light Horse, New Zealanders from the Wellington Mounted Rifles and soldiers of the Indian Army.

Because there was no known family still in the district, RSL member, Jeffrey Swain, spoke to the memory of….

by Jeffrey Swain