A living legacy

LIA BICHEL
“THEY did it for us.”
That was the message to Casey residents who gathered on Anzac Day to honour past and present soldiers at who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Hundreds of people braved the cold to attend ceremonies and marches across the municipality yesterday (Wednesday) and during the week.
At the dawn service at Narre Warren Civic Centre, Berwick RSL secretary George Nicholson welcomed the crowd and said Anzac Day was a time to remember those who fought for their country.
The service marked the 97th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, which Mr Nicholson said to many historians was “the birth of Australia.”
President of the Berwick RSL sub-branch Ray Heathcote said no-one would truly know the reason soldiers risked their lives in the war, but he believed they did it to protect the people in their country and ensure they had freedom of speech, respect, democracy, security, freedom of religion and equality.
“We don’t really know why they were so brave, but I think it was for us,” Mr Heathcote said.
“We thank them for their courage and sacrifice.”
Mr Heathcote said it was important to commemorate, or have a “community memory” every year to pay respect to soldiers.
Wreaths were laid by many local residents, students and dignitaries.
The Narre Warren Rotary Club also catered the breakfast following the dawn service.
Dawn services were also at the Narre Warren Civic Centre, the Cranbourne RSL and at the cenotaph site at the Pearcedale Public Hall.
In Berwick, High Street was closed for the march from Berwick RSL to the War Memorial at 11am.
There was also a ceremony at Endeavour Hills on Monday, hosted by the Dandenong RSL.