Yarra Glen RSL
On Saturday 11 November, Australians will again pause to remember those citizen soldiers who gave their lives to maintain our freedom.
The Yarra Glen RSL will hold a Memorial Service starting at 10.40am at the Yarra Glen Cenotaph, located at 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 tradition of using poppies to remember veterans who paid the ultimate price for freedom was started back in 1915.
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian Army Surgeon, wrote the following poem after the terrible battle in 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.
The Returned & Services League of Australia, Yarra Glen Sub-Branch holds regular meetings on the third Sunday of each month at 10am at the Memorial Hall.
Our 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 RSL
At 11am on 11 November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare.
On the anniversary of the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, a minute’s silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who died fighting to protect the nation.
Please visit the Healesville RSL as they hold our annual commemoration event to pause and reflect on those who died in all wars, conflicts, and operations.
The keynote speaker for the event this year is Bruce Argyle who has lived in Healesville for over twenty years and is actively involved in many local community groups including as Chair of the Community Bank and as a presenter on Community Radio.
Bruce grew up seeing the impact of the First World War on the extended family and subsequent generations of the Argyle family, with two of his Grandfather’s Brothers having been killed on the same day at Gallipoli. They were aged 18 and 21 years.
Walter Skilton will play the bagpipes, pre-service.
Commencing at 10.45am, the service includes performances by the local Healesville High School band and poems by 2024 School Captains, Celeste Duthie and Ethan Nikcevich.
Local bugle player, John Stanhope OAM will again play The Last Post and John Harris will performThe Ode.
If any community groups want to lay a wreath at the cenotaph during the service, please ensure this is delivered to the Healesville RSL no later than 9am on Saturday 11 November.
The service will conclude at approximately 11.20am, followed by morning tea in the member’s lounge.
