By Callum Ludwig
As dawn broke upon the Valley, the Seville community stood to honour those who have served the country.
Beginning at 5.45am, residents had surrounded the Seville War Memorial ready to pay their respects this Anzac Day.
Chair of the Seville War Memorial Committee and local historian Anthony McAleer OAM welcomed attendees to the service and said this morning, all over the country in towns and villages and cities, people are coming together as Australians to commemorate our heritage and to remember those who have served, suffered and died for our nation in peace and war.
“Our magnificent War Memorial this year, is looking quite stoic after all that’s happened to it over the last 12 months but being stoic while surrounded by bushland is part of the Australian story, it’s part of the spirit that our pioneers showed and it’s what our Anzacs had to endure,” he said.
“I also want to make special mention to all of the young people that are here today, it is magnificent to see so many of you and it just goes to show that Anzac Day has really become our most nationally significant day,”
Violinist Rachael Hook had opened the service with a rendition of ‘We Are One/ We Are Australian’, while also later playing Waltzing Matilda during the laying of wreaths and singing the Australian National Anthem.
The first guest speaker at the service was Seville resident and Warrant Officer Class One Michael Hutchinson of the 22nd Engineer Regiment of the Royal Australian Engineers who told the story of Seville’s Victoria Cross and Military Medal recipient Captain George Ingram and his two years on the front line in Europe.
“Over the two years, he experienced all the horror and the heroism of the Western Front, with the men who wore the red and white diamond,” he said.
“On October 5 1918, he was in the IAF advance on the French village of Montbrehain, and his actions on this day were courageous and heroic, and earned him the highest award for gallantry in the Valley, the Victoria Cross, and was last Australian to receive one in the Great War,”
“But his experiences on this day were bloody and traumatic, it may have been a moment of brave actions to those who witnessed, but to him, it would represent the death so many of his close friends and it should not be forgotten that he himself, was responsible for the deaths of many on that day.”
Officer Hutchinson went on to share how Captain Ingram struggled with his life, injuries and mental health after returning from the war before later finding purpose and healing in becoming at Shrine Guard at the Shine of Remembrance, and consequently becoming the most decorated member of the Victoria Police.
A historical reading ‘September 1939’ was ready by Second Lieutenant of the Seville Rural Fire Brigade Andrew Butler, followed by the poem ‘Faded Suits of Green’ read by Ray Van Weert of the Seville Recreation Precinct Committee and then the poem ‘Our Freedom’ was read by Sergeant Brendon de Schwartz of Lilydale Police.
Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham then stepped up and read out Seville’s extensive roll of honour, detailing those who lost their lives through serving the country in both World Wars, notably including the brothers of Capt Ingram; Driver Alex Ingram and Lance Corporal Ronald William Ingram, as well as Private Arthur Albert Douglas, the uncle of the bugler for the service Ian Douglas.
Peter Paterson from the Mt Evelyn RSL read the Ode to the Fallen and Charlie Aulich and James de Schwartz raised the Australian and New Zealnd flags.
Wreaths were then laid at the war memorial on behalf of the 22nd Engineer Regiment of the Royal Australian Engineers, the Seville Township Group, the Mt Evelyn RSL, Yarra Ranges Council, Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence, Casey MP Aaron Violi, the Seville Primary School, the Seville Rural Fire Brigade, the Seville Football Netball Club, the Seville Recreation Precinct Committee and the Lilydale Police.
Acknowledgements were made by President of the Seville Township Group Graham Black, who thanked the Wandin-Seville Community Bank, Yarra Ranges Council, the Seville War Memorial Committee, the 1st Seville Scouts group, the musicians, the guest speakers and Mr McAleer for their efforts in organising the service before also announcing some exciting news for the Seville War Memorial.
“The township group has applied for grant funding from the state government to cover the cost of replacing and installing the two damaged panels, exactly as they were, and we are hoping to hear very soon whether we are successful in that grant,” Mr Black said.
“We’re also happy to announce there will be further improvements to the memorial avenues soon, the donors and history board will be going up this year, recognising the creation of this wonderful memorial, and two special commemorative seats will be installed by the Wandin-Seville Bendigo Bank.”
Attendees were invited to stay for the free community breakfast and to attend the inaugural George Ingram Cup matches at the Seville Football Netball Club later in the day.
