Large crowds turned out, despite heavy rain, for the main Anzac Day service in Wauchope, to remember the troops who landed on Gallipoli beach in World War One, and all those who served.
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The president of the Wauchope RSL Sub-branch, Des Hancock said that on that immortal day, the young soldiers, by their deeds and sacrifice, showed the world that Australia was truly a nation.
“We think of every man, woman and child who, in those crucial years, died so that the lights of freedom and humanity might continue to shine,” he said.
After the Recessional hymn was sung, children from Wauchope Public School read the prayer of thanksgiving. A St Joseph’s Primary pupil read the prayer for the Queen, and the vice-captains of Wauchope High read the prayer for the nation.
Three prize-winning Wauchope High students, Laura Bennetts, Jordan Relf and Mackenzie Toone-Spokes read essays they had written about World War One, and how Australia came to be involved.
Among the crowd were Lyndel Francis wearing the medals of Trooper William Graham, 1st Light Horse and Peter Andrews wearing the medals of his grandfather, Lt H D Andrews DCM and his great-uncle, Pt Robert Colin Graham, 56th battalion.
The Graham brothers, who were from Koree Island, were killed in action in the same week. Duncan Graham, their father, planted two fig trees on their farm outside the family home on Koree Island. They are still standing today.
“Trooper William Graham of the 1st Light Horse was killed in action at Romani,” said Peter Andrews.
“Bill went out twice and bought back two wounded mates the third time he went out to bring back a wounded mate he was killed. My mother, Ann Andrews has a letter from the parents to Duncan Graham to thank him for Bill bringing back their son.” he said.
Delivering the Anzac oration, Pastor Rick Vertueil said that although there was no military victory, the Anzac Diggers came to epitomise the great qualities of Australians.
“The Anzacs showed intense national pride at Gallipoli. Their commitment to mateship and bravery in the face of horrible adversity developed a sense of national character,” he said.
“The spirit of Anzac emerges today in times of crisis and hardship, during cyclones, floods and bushfires, where Australians come together to look after one another and let the victims of these disasters know that they are not alone,” said Pastor Verteuil.
Bugler Tom Horder from MacKillop College played The Last Post and then the hauntingly beautiful words of the Ode were read by Des Hancock.
“They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.”
The bugle sounded Reveille and then everyone sang Abide With Me followed by the national anthem, Advance Australia Fair.
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