By Renee Wood
In World War One more than 416,000 Australians volunteered for service and more than 60,000 were killed.
After more than four years in battle, the guns fell silent on the Western Front and the agreement of armistice was signed on 11 November 1918.
Yarra Valley residents paused to honour Australian servicemen and women and reflect on the 104th anniversary of Armistice for World War One.
Yarra Glen RSL was one of many local leagues who held services to mark Remembrance Day on Friday 11 November.
Local veterans, RSL members and Yarra Glen Primary School students took part in the service.
Excerpts from William Sonny Holding’s letters sent home from war in 1916 shared the grueling nature of war and the devastation that was witnessed.
The students also recited poems In Flanders Field and The Victory Emblem.
The laying of wreaths and poppies followed, with the symbol of the poppy most important on Remembrance Day, being a symbol of remembrance and hope for peace.
Attendees took part in placing a poppy at the shrine as many were also worn proudly on chests.
President Stephen Shortis said it’s important the symbol lives on and it’s up to the next generation to carry the message into the future.
“It’s going to be up to you people to keep the memory going and to make sure that the poppy remains the symbol that it is, the symbol of one day world peace,” he said.
Mr Shortis said despite all the past foreign conflicts that have gone before, we still need to keep striving for world peace.
“The concept of war has changed somewhat, but not at all in Ukraine and Russia, but certainly in the concept of China, when they are considered economically winning the hearts and minds of people through the Belt and Road process, but at the end of the day, is still a threat that they’ll take military action against Taiwan.”
The sentiment of Remembrance Day echoed through the service as we remember and reflect on the country’s bravery and continue to push for peace and safety in the world.
“We have to be vigilant, we have to be aware of all these things going on around the world and we have to do our part, as Australians our part is to make the world as safe and as good as a can be for everyone.”
