Memory of them

By Kath Gannaway
THE YARRA Valley stood to attention on Friday for Remembrance Day – the 93rd anniversary of the armistice on the Western Front which brought to an end four years of World War I.
The Ode was read and wreaths laid at Wandin Yallock, Healesville, Yarra Junction, Yarra Glen and Warburton in memory of those who lost their lives in wars.
Sixty people gathered at the memorial in Yarra Junction to remember the fallen, with Upper Yarra RSL treasurer Geoff Smith as master of ceremonies for the morning.
“It’s the biggest we’ve seen for a while,” he said.
“It was nice to see a few of the workers and even cyclists along the track stop and take a minute’s silence.”
Around the same number attended the service at Healesville, where Afghanistan veteran Sergeant Tony Martens of the Defence Force School of Signals was guest speaker.
Sgt Martens said the images of World War I had never lost their power.
“To a great degree those images of the muddy moonscapes of the Western Front have served to define, for succeeding generations, the horror of war.
Healesville High School students Tim Waddingham and Sarah Van De Ven read the poem In Flanders Fields, and the response “We Shall Keep The Faith”.
At Yarra Glen Grade 6 students laid a wreath. Student Luke read an introduction to the ceremony, Emma read In Flanders Field and Chloe, We Shall Not Sleep.