Large presence in Tallygaroopna

Around 100 people attended Tallygaroopna’s Anzac Day ceremony at the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall to remember the sacrifices made through multiple generations, with this year’s ceremony focusing on the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, 50 years ago.

Colin Falla and John Kemp attended the Tallygaroopna ceremony. They are mates from school days and both are Vietnam veterans, with long family histories in the military.

Both are philosophical about being drafted into Australia’s infantry forces and deployed to the Vietnam War.

“I’m one of those people, what happens happens, no good going back and things, it’s happened. You can’t fix the past,” Mr Kemp said.

“You can’t dwell on what has (happened), you’ve got to go through to the future,” Mr Falla said.

Dennis Gundrill, who joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1973, was a special guest at the ceremony, having served in peacekeeping missions in the Middle East.

“I just find it a privilege to come along and meet the people who have served in major conflicts,” he said.

He said his message was a simple one.

“Just tell them to have courage and conviction in what they do and to have respect for their fellow man really, is what they really should be doing, and it’d be a wonderful place to live in,” he said.

Hall committee secretary and treasurer Tony Farrell said it was important for smaller communities to continue to hold services on Anzac Day.

“We always get a good attendance because some of the locals can’t make it to the dawn service, so they use this as their main contribution for the day,” he said.