District’s history of sacrifice

By Sarah Schwager
CASEY locals flocked to Remembrance Day services around the municipality on Sunday to remember those who served in war.
Berwick RSL’s ceremony at the Berwick Cenotaph provided residents with a history of Berwick’s commitments in military forces and the reserves.
Guest speaker Noel Sealey said Berwick and District from its first days provided people to fight for Australia’s defence.
He said Berwick was made up of people who were strong of body and mind, resourceful, self-reliant and bound together by a strong sense of loyalty to family, community, country, Crown and empire.
“In those early days, we relied upon the so-called weekend warriors, the volunteers or, as they became later on, the paid or part paid militia, and later still, the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) or Reserves,” he said.
The Endeavour Hills service, run at the Endeavour Hills peace memorial by the Dandenong RSL, had a steady turnout as locals chose the venue for their minute’s silence at the 11th hour.
At Cranbourne, people flocked to the Cranbourne Cenotaph to pay their respects.
The event, organised by the Cranbourne RSL, included lowering of the flags to half-mast, the laying of wreaths, a minute’s silence and the playing of The Last Post.
Locals were moved by a speech by Chaplain Jason Wright from HMAS Cerberus honouring those who had made “the supreme sacrifice” while serving Australia in times of war.
“We remember the sacrifices made by the original Anzacs and countless others before and since then and for the countless blessings granted to our people in peace and war,” he said.
“We acknowledge the sacrifices made by men and women of our defence forces employed overseas today and we dedicate ourselves to strive for peace, learning from the lessons of our past.”
The Pearcedale service was also an event to remember with a five plane flyover rivalling the celebrations of its larger Casey neighbours.
More than 130 people gathered at the Pearcedale Public Hall to hear Kaylene Butterworth sing a beautiful rendition of the John Lennon song Imagine, while Can You Hear The Australian Soldiers Marching was also played.