By Eleanor Wilson
The Berwick Cenotaph was veiled in floral wreaths on Tuesday 25 April, as hundreds of locals paused to remember on ANZAC Day.
A Veteran’s parade starting at the Berwick RSL travelled down High Street to the steps of the cenotaph, guided by an enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
Secretary of the Berwick RSL, Chris McKenna, led proceedings, which begun with a reading of the prayer and hymn by Revd Elwyn Sparks, during which a flyover by the RAAF Roulettes took place at approximately 11:03am.
Guest Speaker Commander Luke Weston RAN, who is deputy director of the Mariner Skills Centre at HMAS Cerberus, gave a poetic speech about the 108th anniversary of the landing of ANZAC troops at Gallipoli.
“We gather always, not to glorify war, but to remind ourselves that we value who we are, the freedoms which we possess and to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who contributed to shaping the identity of our nation,” he said.
“Some lie in battlefield cemeteries, some in jungles, others lost in their aircraft and our sailors with their ships on the sea floor.
“They have no grave, but the cruel sea. No flowers lay at their head.”
“We are all in their debt.”
Community stakeholders also paid their respects during the wreath laying ceremony, including South Eastern Metropolitan MP Ann-Marie Hermans, La Trobe MP Jason Wood, Berwick MP Brad Battin, Narre Warren North MP Belinda Wilson, Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas, City of Casey administrator Miguel Belmar, Victoria Police, South East Legacy, Australian Defence Force, Berwick CFA and Narre Warren SES.
A recital of the ANZAC Requiem by Berwick RSL president Pam Phillips flowed into a reading of The Ode.
The service ended with the playing of The Last Post, an observance of one minute’s silence and the playing of Reveille, during which three volleys of gunfire were fired.
The march then returned to the Berwick RSL, where refreshments and a sausage sizzle by the Rotary Club were served.
Among the crowds attending the ceremony were three generations of the McMaster family, who paraded down High Street cradling photos of family members George and Gordon Bunting, who fought in Papua New Guinea and in World War I.
Primary School student Madison laid a wreath on behalf of her school, Berwick Lodge.
She attends the ANZAC Day service every year and said it was important to be able to “represent my school and pay my respects to the fallen soldiers”.
Ruby and Molly from Berwick proudly wore their dad’s police medals to the service.
It’s their first year at the service without their dad by their side, who has sadly passed.
“Their dad always taught them the importance of coming and this is their first year coming without their dad, but they were really excited to wear their dad’s medals,” mum Kelly said.
Veteran Bruce Campbell spent 30 years in the Navy, including some time in Iraq.
For him, ANZAC Day is a chance to reconnect with that part of him.
“I just think it reconnects me with my friends and with my service…it’s more about the opportunity to remember my mates and stuff like that.”
Mrs Phillips said she was pleased with the turnout.
“It’s getting bigger and bigger, I think people are trying to keep it going and trying to get the younger ones to come,” she said.
“I think it will continue to grow stronger, I hope so anyway.”
