By Dongyun Kwon
All veterans, who have given their lives in combat for Australia and Commonwealth nations, were remembered once again on Saturday 11 November.
The Remembrance Day services took place in Yarra Glen and Healesville as well as other places in Yarra Valley.
Yarra Glen Returned and Services League president Stephen Shortis said he was emotional because this year’s service would be his last one in Yarra Glen.
“I have been doing this for a long period of time and I want to say thank you to all the people who helped me,” he said.
Local veterans, RSL members and Yarra Glen Primary School students took part in the service.
The service started with a welcome address by Yarra Glen RSL secretary Edward Bartosh.
An excerpted letter from Walter George Parker from Bullecourt, France in December 1916 was read by George Miller.
Yarra Glen Primary School leaders Lachlan Bosua and Claire Lofaro recited the poems In Flanders Fields and The Victory Emblem respectively.
Lachlan said he was grateful for getting an opportunity to recite the poem.
“I really like to participate in Anzac Day and Remembrance Day because I have some of my relatives who fought in the war,” he said.
Claire said she was nervous for awhile, but after she got off the nerve, she was able to think about how important it was to do the poem.
“It’s important to commemorate and remember all the people who participated in the war and helped our country,” she said.
After the students’ recitations, Mike Watkins recited The Ode, followed by a one-minute silence while Last Post was played by Gabby Shortis with her bugle.
Local community groups and attendees laid wreaths and poppies.
Yarra Glen RSL secretary Edward Bartosh said the service went very well, even though it’s normally a smaller crowd than Anzac Day.
“It’s our duty to remember those who have gone before us and we will keep doing this whether there’s 20 or 400 attendees,” he said.
Yarra Glen Girl Guides was on the site standing around the Cenotaph and helping raise and lower the flags during the service.
Queen’s Guide recipient Erin Allison said she has participated in the service since 2013.
“This would be my 10th year doing this and I have enjoyed and liked allowing the other girls to do it and watching them step up and be part of the community,” she said.
“Today, we have four girls standing around the Cenotaph and I organised their formation. We also helped raise and lower the flags.”
Christmas Hill Primary School principal Maria Parks emphasised the importance of passing the spirit of Remembrance Day down to the younger generation.
“Today, two of my students took part in the laying of wreaths. It’s really important for young people to take part in these kinds of services to help them understand the history behind these special days we celebrate,” she said.
