By Mikayla van Loon
Whether waking to attend the dawn service at Mount Evelyn or joining the commemorations at Montrose, Anzac Day was filled with humbling moments of gratitude for the service of Australia’s men and women.
Both services attracted big crowds this year, with Mount Evelyn RSL members impressed by the support of the community.
“We had over 3000 [people at Mount Evelyn],” former RSL president Roger Boness said.
“We have had up to 5000 but it was special today, quite special.”
Mr Boness said the specialness he could only put down to “the weather, the kookaburras and the possums”.
RSL president Matt Crymble was also incredibly pleased with the turnout of people who packed the rims of the war memorial grounds and said “we’re all doing it for the right reason”.
The community in response were grateful for the continued support and dedication of the Mount Evelyn RSL for hosting such a beautiful service.
“Beautiful service. Well done to all. Every year the numbers grow a little more,” one person commented on social media.
“And of course, [the] kookaburra’s timing was on point. What an amazing community we belong to.”
“Beautiful service very well attended by the community, well done everyone at Mt Evelyn RSL,” longtime member of the RSL Betty Crittenden said.
At Montrose, the town centre was buzzing as people gathered on the grass and pathways, with silence falling over the crowd to honour those who died at war.
The service was conducted by Mount Evelyn RSL member Max Lamb who made special mention to the emergency services personnel who attended.
“I’d just like to make mention that we have quite a large contingent of our emergency services, we have quite a few from the police force here today, CFA and I noticed in the crowd we’ve got several veterans, so welcome to you,” he said.
Each year, the Montrose service focuses on a different conflict or battle. This year being no different, poet Jim Brown told the story of the Battle for Shaggy Ridge.
While Mr Brown said it is one of the “least renowned campaigns by the Australian military in Papua New Guinea” it was an important battle fought against the Japanese who had taken the ridge as a defensive site.
“The capture of Shaggy Ridge by the 18th brigade cleared the way for an Australian advance across the Finisterre Range, up the coast to link up with Allied forces advancing from the east,” he said.
The “gruelling four month long campaign” included “leapfrogging clearance operations” and “the strategic use of specialist horses, paratroops and the rapid deployment commandos”.
This battle lasted from October 1943 to January 1944, seeing the deaths of 204 soldiers and 464 wounded but Mr Brown said many more died from tropical disease and illness than on the battlefield.
This year’s Montrose service saw the inclusion of many primary school students who spoke and sang with sincere hearts.
Mooroolbark Grammar students Leo, Sally and Bridie spoke of what Anzac Day means to them.
Donning his great grandfather’s medals, Leo said he was honouring the memory of both his great grandfathers who served in Korea and World War II.
“Both men showed bravery and are heroes,” he said.
Sally paid tribute to the men who fought at Gallipoli on the 108th anniversary of the landing, while Bridie shared the tale of the poppy.
“Being an Australian means we have a special connection to the Anzacs. We remember the Anzacs who fought for our country a long time ago,” Bridie said.
“We remember them because they did a lot for us and some even lost their lives. We want to say thank you to them and remember how much they cared for our country.”
Billanook Primary School’s choir finished the ceremony with the song ‘I am Australian’, an uplifting moment on a sombre day.
