By Ethan Benedicto
Berwick teemed with life on the morning of 25 April as the annual Anzac Day march and service pushed through cold winds and pouring rain, with hundreds gathered to commemorate the service of victims of war.
The march began at 10:40am, at the front of Berwick RSL, where local members, soldiers, cadets, SES and CFA officers, school bands and scout groups prepared and made their way through Gloucester Ave and down High Street.
Greeted by the applause of many who had crowded the edges of the street, the parade, with heads held high and flags higher, assembled around the cenotaph as the RSL and other speakers soon prepared for the service.
The service began at 11:00am with a short prayer for past and current conflicts, of peacekeepers and those caught in the crossfire; with the hymn Abide with Me playing after.
Raymond Heathcote, former president of Berwick RSL addressed the crowd and shared with them what Anzac Day meant for him, saying that “on Anzac Day, my mind is always conflicted somewhat“.
“There are two sides to Anzac Day, on one side there is horrible suffering as the result of armed conflict; the world always says that these conflicts started in the name of peace and for peace to return after those conflicts – has never been the case, that’s one side we have to remember.
“Armed conflict is humanity’s disgrace, but also Anzac is remembering those people who were prepared to answer the call and serve their country, to remember those who did not return and those who returned but had serious injuries, illnesses and disabilities,“ he said.
Laying the wreaths came soon after, where local representatives such as LaTrobe MP Jason Wood, Berwick MP Brad Battin, Bruce MP Julian Hill, Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas, and Legislative Council member Michael Galea paid their respects on the monument.
Berwick RSL president Pam Phillips, local police, SES and Berwick fire brigade officers and the Berwick Rotary Club also presented their wreaths on the cenotaph.
Local schools such as St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar, Brentwood Park Primary, Heritage College, Cranbourne East Secondary, and Berwick Fields Primary were also present at the placing of wreaths.
Pam Phillips was the next to take the podium, where she initially spoke on the day’s history and the importance of its roots.
“Our servicemen and servicewomen have left us a splendid heritage, may we and our successors prove worthy of their sacrifice,“ she said.
After her speech, Ms Phillips recited the Ode to the Fallen, which was followed by the Last Post and a minute’s silence.
Both the New Zealand and Australian national anthems were sung, and marked the end of the service, but not the day with people in attendance encouraged to return to Berwick RSL for refreshments and afternoon tea.
Brad Battin MP, who had been one of the local representatives who placed a wreath on the cenotaph said that Anzac Day “has been an opportunity to recognise those that have, from the past, given up their lives for our freedoms“.
“I’m a huge protector of the freedom of the individual, and when I listened to Ray Heathcote it resonated because Ray is a person of principle and character and to hear him speak about those in the past who fought for us I thought it’s nothing but respect for so many people to come out and honour that,“ he said.
Jason Wood MP echoed a similar sentiment, where he said that Anzac Day for him was an “acknowledgement of all those who have served and their family members“.
“The one message I want to pass on to the rest of the community is that it does mean a lot if you go up to a veteran and say ’thanks for your service’, that’s one of my roles today,“ he said.
The day came to a close with all who participated in the march and the public congregating around the RSL building, with members selling drinks and the Rotary Club with a sausage sizzle.
