Tomorrow on Friday, 11 November 2022, we will again pause to remember those citizen soldiers who gave their lives to maintain our freedom.
It is tradition at Remembrance Day services for attendees to place their remembrance poppies at the cenotaphs or place of memorial.
The tradition of using poppies to remember veterans who paid the ultimate price for our freedom was started back in 1915. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian Army Surgeon, wrote the following poem after the terrible battle in the Ypres, Belgium.
In the nearby cemetery, McCrae could see the wild poppies that sprang up in the ditches in that part of Europe, and he spent twenty minutes of precious rest time scribbling fifteen lines of verse in a notebook.
Poppies were first sold in England on Armistice Day in 1921 by members of the British Legion to raise money for those who had been incapacitated by the war. The practice began in Australia the same year, promoted by the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia (now known as the Returned & Services League of Australia – or RSL).
Since 1921 wearing a poppy has enabled Australians to show they have not forgotten the more than 102 000 Australian servicemen and women who have given their lives in wars and conflicts during the past 100+ years.
This Friday and a number of RSL’s and community groups are hosting services to honour those who fought and died in war.
Here are the details for various services.
Yarra Glen
The Yarra Glen RSL will hold a Memorial Service starting at 10:40am at the Yarra Glen Cenotaph, located at the 20 ANZAC Avenue just west of the CFA Building. Following the short service, individuals may place their remembrance poppies at the base of the monument. A reception will follow in the RSL rooms in the Memorial Hall.
The Returned & Services League of Australia, Yarra Glen Sub-Branch holds regular meetings on the third Sunday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Memorial Hall. Their mission is to support the well-being and betterment of our members, former and serving members of the ADF, and their dependants, with the provision of welfare and commemorative services and, where appropriate, to contribute to the worthy needs within the community.
Healesville
Healesville RSL will be hosting a service at the Healesville Memorial at 10.45am followed by light refreshments.
Warburton
The Warburton RSL Sub-Branch will commemorate Remembrance Day at a service at the Warburton Cenotaph. The community is invited to join all veterans, their families and descendants in the park surrounding the memorial from 10.30am.
At 11am the service will end with the traditional silence, remembering all those who have lost their lives in the service of our country up to the present day.
Pupils from the Warburton Primary School will take part, reading a poem and lowering and raising the flags. Refreshments will be served after the service in the park, depending on the weather. After the recent wind storms, drenching rains and floods, they hope it will be a moment for all of us to gather together in peace and harmony.
Thank you to all those who are supporting the Poppy Appeal.
Seville
The Seville War Memorial near the Seville Water Play Park on the corner of Warburton Highway and Monbulk-Seville Road will begin a service at 10.45am.
The guest speaker is Ian Douglas who will be talking about his uncle Arthur Douglas who is listed on the memorial.
Millgrove
Millgrove residents can attend a service at the Millgrove Cenotaph at 11am
Both the Millgrove and East Warburton campuses of the Millwarra Primary School will be in attendance.
Wandin
The Rotary Club of Wandin will be hosting a service at the Wandin War Memorial from 11am.
