As the crisp November air settles over the Yarra Valley, our thoughts turn to one of the most solemn and significant occasions in our community calendar. This Remembrance Day, as the clock approaches the eleventh hour, Healesville will once again fall silent in tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
For our RSL Sub-Branch, Remembrance Day carries profound significance that extends far beyond a simple ceremony. In our close-knit community, where generations of families have called Healesville home, we maintain living connections to those who served in conflicts spanning from the Boer War to more recent peacekeeping missions.
The names etched on our local cenotaph tell stories that are woven into the very fabric of our town. These were not just soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel – they were farmers from our valleys, shopkeepers from our main street, and young men and women who once walked the same paths we tread today.
Our community’s contribution to Australia’s military history is significant. During World War I, from a then-small township, dozens of local men embarked for distant shores, many never to return. World War II saw another generation answer the call, while subsequent conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, and beyond have seen Healesville continue to serve our nation.
Today, our RSL Sub-Branch serves as both a guardian of these memories and a vital support network for veterans and their families. We see daily how the impact of service continues long after conflicts end. Our younger veterans, particularly those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and peacekeeping operations, remind us that the need for support and understanding is as relevant today as it was a century ago.
This Remembrance Day, we invite all Healesville residents to join us at the Healesville RSL for our annual service. The ceremony is more than tradition – it is our sacred duty to ensure that each new generation understands the price of peace and the importance of vigilance in protecting it.
To our younger residents, we extend a special invitation. In an age where global tensions continue to simmer, understanding our military history and its impact on our community has never been more important. The stories of service and sacrifice that echo through Healesville’s streets are your inheritance – a legacy that speaks to the very best of our Australian character.
As we gather this Remembrance Day, we will remember not only those who fell in distant battles but also the ongoing challenges faced by our returned service personnel. We will remember the families who bear the invisible scars of service, and we will reaffirm our commitment to supporting all those who have served our nation.
At 11am on 11 November, when the Last Post sounds across our valley and we observe our minute of silence, we invite you to stand with us. In that sacred moment, as the hills of Healesville keep their quiet watch, we will fulfil our solemn promise to remember them.
Lest We Forget.
