Paying respect: Campaspe Shire Cr Leanne Pentreath lays a wreath at the Gunbower Anzac Day Service. Photo: Supplied
Gunbower residents joined at Gunbower Soldiers Memorial Hall for an Anzac Day Commemorative Service.
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The service featured a range of tributes and speeches, including school students, a veteran’s family, and a VFL premiership player.
Legacy: Chase, Nate and Remi Fountain with their late grandfather Barry Fountain’s uniform and medals. Photo: Supplied
Gunbower RSL’s past and last president, Vietnam veteran Barry Fountain, was honoured by three of his grandchildren, Chase, Nate and Remi Fountain.
Penny Lynn, Lilli McGillivray and Gam Garcia from Gunbower Primary School paid tribute to Sir John Monash, delivering a speech to the crowd.
Paying tribute: Gunbower Primary students Penny Lynn, Lilli McGillivray, and Gam Garcia present their school’s wreath. Photo: Supplied
Gunbower Racing Club president Mick Farrant helped organise and was MC for the event.
“We had a great day,” he said.
“Someone said there were 150 to 200 people outside, all the seats were full and people were standing lining the walls inside too.
“We had upwards of 300 people, which is great for a small town.”
The guest speaker was past VFL player and Cohuna local Gary Farrant, who played for North Melbourne’s premiership winning VFL side from 1967-1975.
Famous faces: former VFL premiership player Gary Farrant was the guest speaker. Photo: Supplied
Wreaths from Gunbower Primary, Moama Anglican Grammar and Campaspe Shire Council were among those presented at the service.
Graham Smith was the bugler at both the sunrise playing of the Last Post at Gunbower Butter Factory, and at the service.
Tradition: The Last Post was played by bugler Graham Smith. Photo: Supplied
In true Gunbower fashion, a canon was fired, a years-long Anzac Day tradition for the town.
Different members of the community are invited to fire a blank, including their guest speaker and people who helped out with the organisation.
“I always say, ‘if it happens, it happens in Gunbower’,” Mick Farrant said.
Full guns blazing: It was all action at the Gunbower Anzac Day Service. Photo: Supplied
In another Gunbower tradition, hay bales were painted by artists Abby Smith and Bobby Dickson. Their artworks represent Anzac Day, including designs with soldiers and poppies this year.
Honouring the fallen: A hay bale painted by artist Abby Smith. Photo: Supplied
Many members of the community participated in the event, from planning, painting, speaking, and setting up.
“Everyone in town gets involved,” Mick Farrant said.
“To me, it’s a day where everyone comes together.”
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