By Renee Wood
The Upper Yarra has paused to reflect and honour those who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
Services were held throughout the region with several schools and community groups joining together to commemorate Remembrance Day.
The Wesburn Millgrove Fire Brigade held a service at the Millgrove Memorial Rock, with brigade members, local residents and both Millwarra Primary Campuses were present for the service.
School captains, including William and Bailey from the Warburton East Campus, laid wreaths.
“It’s important because it’s when World War One ended and we remember everyone that served and sacrificed their lives so we can live in a peaceful world,” William said.
“It’s good to pay respect to the people who gave us our freedom,” Bailey said.
All of the students also hand made poppies to lay – a fitting tribute especially for this Remembrance Day as it marks 100 years since the Flanders Poppy was adopted as the commemorative flower of remembrance.
“Doing all the cutting and making them was really fun so we could then lay them down,” William said.
President of the brigade Andy Bennett said it’s great the younger generation took part in the ceremony.
“We are really intentionally working on getting our younger guys and girls coming up to see that this is something they can be leading in the future, and that’s why we had a grade six boy on the flag as well as one of our life members,” Mr Bennett said.
Thankfully Remembrance Day was able to go ahead following the most recent lockdown, with concerns services would be affected.
“If it wasn’t going to go ahead we had plan b and plan c, and thank goodness we could, I think it makes a big difference to people – the little things like this after lockdown build resilience and hope in people.”
