By Marcus Uhe
Few things draw crowds in the community quite like local sport.
But on Saturday, the action stopped.
You could hear pins drop during powerful pregame commemorations as players, officials and fans stopped to pay respects to those who have served our country as part of Anzac Day ceremonies.
At Gembrook, Gembrook Cockatoo and Emerald linked arms with their support staff and netballers in lines that stretched from the boundary line to the centre square, as the Australian flag fluttered in the light autumn breeze.
Emerald’s jumpers featured the names of former players that have served in wars on their backs and the Anzac emblem proudly on the front, while the Brookers’ had soldier silhouettes, the Southern Cross and poppies on their commemorative strips.
President of the Gembrook RSL, Neville Bryant, hosted the pregame ceremony and read the Ode of Remembrance, Brett Barker from the Cockatoo RSL read the Lord’s Prayer, and Richard Bahnsen from the Gembrok RSL read a poem to remember the ANZACs.
Mark Gardener from the Cockatoo branch played the Last Post and Patrick Wakefield, also from the Cockatoo branch, performed the national anthem, while Cockatoo RSL President Carol Thompson had the honour of tossing the coin.
Gembrook Cockatoo Football Netball Club had forged a relationship with the RSL in previous years through the work of previous president, Norm Smith, with Emerald and Cockatoo’s branch’s also heavily involved in proceedings on Saturday.
New in his position at the helm of the Gembrook branch, Bryant wants to continue to build on the foundations already forged between the two entities.
“Today is another opportunity to spread the word around that we’re here in Gembrook, just down the road,” Bryant said.
“We’d like to get a little bit closer if it’s available, help out, network.
“It’s a community service here, basically, and we are the same sort thing in some ways.
“It gives us another avenue to pay homage to my mates, personally, and everyone that’s served in the uniform to recognise their service a little bit more.
“It can’t hurt, it doesn’t matter – less is worse and more is better.”
Michael Firrito coached his side to a stirring win over its long time geographical rivals, and said the significance of the occasion wasn’t lost on his side.
“When you pull on the jumper, you represent a lot more than just us as a 22 – you represent the wider community and a lot of people that have been involved.
“We’ve got players families where ancestors have been in the wars.
“What we do is insignificant compared to that, but to be involved in such a day where it brings happiness to a lot of people, is special.”
At Pakenham, former RSL President Gary Elliott conducted the ceremony, with Sam Sollberger doing a great job of performing the last post.
Elliott watched the big clash between Pakenham and Officer on the upstairs balcony and was on hand to present the Anzac Round Cup to Officer coach Daniel Charles and captain Brent Moloney.
