General News
2 May, 2023
Forever they will live in our hearts
Husbands and fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers were among those uppermost in the hearts and minds of more than 1000 people attending Horsham's Anzac Day dawn service. And among the 542 memorial crosses representing people from the Horsham...
Husbands and fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers were among those uppermost in the hearts and minds of more than 1000 people attending Horsham's Anzac Day dawn service.
And among the 542 memorial crosses representing people from the Horsham community who had died in wars over the years were 48 who lost their lives at Gallipoli, where the Anzac spirit was born.
"Remember them as the young men and women they were," Lieut Col Daniel Kreutzer urged the crowd gathered on Tuesday morning at Sawyer Park Cenotaph and war memorial.
"Some were as young as 16."
Guest speaker at both the dawn and late morning services was Lieut Col Kreutzer, a former officer of the15th Transport Squadron and Horsham's 128 Transport Troop reserve unit.
He reminded the crowd that more than 2000 Australians died or were wounded on the first day of the beach landings at the Turkish battlefield.
When that particular assault was abandoned, more than 11,400 Australian and New Zealand Army Corps troops had paid the ultimate sacrifice in the course of that fierce campaign.
Such was the price they paid, it was later to be known as Anzac Cove.
Gallipoli continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Australians and is often touted as the place where Australians proved themselves the equal of any in the world.
Many Wimmera men were on the boats which made that first landing. Four dozen paid immediately, or soon after, with their lives.
Horsham RSL president Don Pirouet said the Horsham crowd was exceeded only by the number that attended the centenary of Gallipoli-landing commemorations in 2015.
By 6.30am people had filled the 200 seats laid out.
Later arrivals stood silently on the lawns surrounding the Cenotaph, the weather mild for a late April morning, and the sky clear except for a few sweeping clouds which came into view as darkness gradually gave way to light.
The mood was one of quiet reverence as people of all ages waited for the ceremony to begin. Even their dogs seemed subdued.
Horsham City Band helped set the tone with the hymn Abide With Me.
Soon, the Army Catafalque Party Mount Guard was in place and the Spirit of Anzac Torch lit and placed on its stand by members of Horsham First AIF Re-enactment Troop.
The bell from HMAS Horsham, lent by Horsham Rural City Council, had sounded at 6.30am, followed by the Lord’s Prayer by Chris Sutton of Horsham Salvation Army and a welcome from Mayor Robyn Gulline.
Chairman Gareth Lane reminded the crowd that more than 100,000 Australians had lost their lives in overseas battles.
Special mention was made of the Korean War, from 1950-1953, with 56 Wimmera men involved, and one killed. More than 17,164 Australians participated, with 339 killed and 1200 wounded.
Passing the Torch from an old Digger to a younger one fell to Rex Dumesny and Pte Jasmine
Howard of 128 Transport Troop, Horsham.
Many groups were represented in wreaths placed at the Cenotaph, before Jo Ellis of Horsham City Band played the Last Post and Reveille.
Alana Sorrell recited In Flanders Fields while Jorja Clode gave the response before Malachy O’Brien sang both New Zealand and Australian national anthems.
After the ceremony people laid sprigs of rosemary beside some of the memorial crosses.