We will remember them: Gloria Shearer and retired Major Peter Shearer at the Murchison Anzac Day dawn service. Photos: Georgia Rossiter
Photo by
Georgia Rossiter
Murchison welcomed a large crowd to its annual Anzac Day dawn service on Monday.
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About 100 people gathered at the Murchison War Memorial to honour Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died at war.
Vietnam veteran and retired Major Peter Shearer attended the dawn service with his wife, Gloria.
“It’s an annual pilgrimage,” he said.
Lest we forget: Murchison RSL club vice-president Brian Carlon, president Justin Appleton and treasurer Peter Cutcliffe.
Photo by
Georgia Rossiter
Murchison RSL Sub-branch president Justin Appleton said it was great to see so many people in attendance.
“We had a service last year, but we just social distanced,” he said.
“We haven’t actually missed a service, we got down to two people.”
Mr Appleton said observing Anzac Day was particularly important to Murchison, with about 40 young men from the town and district having died in service.
“During both wars, Murchison contributed more so than say Melbourne or other places,” he said.
“People in the region knew how to ride horses and they knew how to fire weapons.”
Feeding the crowd: James Wood, Lions club president Dennis McCullagh, SES unit controller Stephen Addison, Colin Beavis and Bruce Smith on duty at breakfast.
Photo by
Georgia Rossiter
In his address, Mr Appleton acknowledged current conflicts around the world, and said it was important to acknowledge them on Anzac Day.
“If we don’t understand where we’ve come from, how can we prepare ourselves for where we are going?” he said.
“What’s happening around the world today is quite pertinent to Anzac Day.”
Murchison Lions and SES members hosted a community breakfast for those who attended the service.
Light up the dawn: Crosses and poppies were illuminated as the community gathered early on Anzac Day.
Photo by
Georgia Rossiter
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