By Mikayla van Loon
As people gathered at the Lilydale cenotaph to commemorate and pay tribute to the service of those who have fought in battles right across the world on Remembrance Day, the focus of the Lilydale RSL was once again turned to the stolen Poppy Appeal tins.
At 11am the sound of sirens bellowed from the Lilydale CFA to signify the start of the minute’s silence and then again at 11.01am to signify its end.
The catafalque party stood guard of the cenotaph as people laid wreaths and Lilydale Primary School students read poems.
Lilydale RSL president Bill Dobson said the service “went really well” and it was nice to see people back at the cenotaph to remember Australia’s service men and women.
“It was really good. I was surprised at how many people turned up, you never know with Covid but we were pretty much back to pre-Covid numbers,” he said.
But as much as Mr Dobson said the stolen money tins would not put a damper on the day, two more tins were stolen in the lead up to Remembrance Day.
Upon going to collect the tins, RSL members discovered two had been taken from a physiotherapist and from Gracious Grace in Lilydale.
Shocked by the incidents, all Mr Dobson could say was “it’s hard to believe.”
That brings it to a total of five donation tins stolen from various shops in the local area.
Mr Dobson said police reports have been filed for the two latest money tins.
“I just worry about the volunteers and the businesses where they were taken because they don’t feel good about it. I just reassured them that it’s nothing to do with them and you can’t do anything about it.”
