A big crowd turned out for a moving Remembrance Day ceremony at Wauchope Cenotaph to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice which ended World War One.
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Veterans were driven to the ceremony in vintage cars on Sunday November 11, and many of those present wore their own war medals, or ones earned by their fathers and grandfathers.
The ceremony director, Major Mick Brownlow, welcomed everyone who came, including the veterans, members of the public, and schoolchildren from all around Wauchope and beyond, who paid their respects to those who gave their service, and sometimes their lives, to fight for their country. Wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph.
“We remember and pay homage to those gallant men and women, who in their youth, offered their most treasured possession, their lives, so that we of today may go about our daily occupation in peace and freedom,” said Wauchope RSL Sub-branch president, Des Hancock.
“To the many Australians who gave their lives, and who take pride of place in our minds today, to our absent comrades we say: ‘Sleep well, Australia’s sons and daughters wherever you may lay, in far-off lands and many seas. Your duty done, neither time, not evil chance can stain your name, or bring you sense of loss.
‘Men of our kind, remember well, Tis for your freedom still we lie. Twas for your honour that we fell who are not lost till honour die.”
In the opening prayer, Greg Cavanagh from the RSL Sub-branch prayed that God would watch over all those serving in the armed forces, and those who stuff suffer disabilities through sickness or injuries in war.
“Strengthen and encourage those who have been saddened by the loss of loved ones, especially children deprived of a parent’s car and protection,” he said.
He also thanked all the local ladies who knitted 2000 poppies to adorn Wauchope Cenotaph, and the Wauchope Public School pupils who made hundreds of paper poppies as part of the same display.
Wauchope High School captain, Caitlin Miller addressed the crowd, and spoke about what the Great War meant to young people of her generation.
Luella from Huntingdon Public School read the beautiful poem about World War One, In Flanders Fields and the crowd sang the hymn, Abide With Me.
Major Dudley Mortimer addressed the crowd and spoke especially to the young people present. He spoke of the great sacrifices made by so many young Australians in World War One, and urged the boys and girls to be like them, ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.
Everyone observed a minute’s silence at 11 o’clock, to mark 100 years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front.
The bugler, Tom Horder played The Last Post, and Wauchope RSL Sub-branch president, Des Hancock read the powerful words of The Ode.
“They went with a song to the battle
They were young – straight of limb, true of eye
Steady and aglow
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, not the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.”
The bugler played reveille and everyone sang the national anthem, Advance Australia Fair.