‘Remember the great Australians who gave their lives to protect Australia’: RSL president

By Monique Preston

Nov 11, 2024

The catafalque party at the Shepparton cenotaph. Photo by Megan Fisher

At 11am on November 11, 1918, the guns fell silent on the battlefields as the Armistice was signed to end World War I.

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On the same day this year, a crowd of about 250 people gathered at the Shepparton Cenotaph to remember all those who have fought and died for Australia in all wars and peacekeeping missions.

Shepparton RSL sub-branch president Bob Wilkie asked those gathered this year to especially remember the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at beach in France on June 6, 1944, which he said many considered to be the turning point of World War II.

“Remember the great Australians who gave their lives to protect Australia,” Mr Wilkie said.

Leigh Johnson was the guest speaker at Shepparton’s Remembrance Day service. Photo by Megan Fisher

This year’s guest speaker was Leigh Johnson – who spent four years in the Army Reserve with the 8th/7th Battalion Royal Victorian Regiment.

Two of Mr Johnson’s sons also spent time in the Army Reserve, including one who went through training at the same time as him, making the pair one of the few fathers and sons to do their training together.

In recent years, Mr Johnson was responsible for implementing a youth vigil where members of Shepparton’s Army and Air Force Cadet units perform a holding ground ceremony at the Shepparton Cenotaph on Anzac Day eve.

Bill Brown (centre) watches the Remembrance Day service. Photo by Megan Fisher

Mr Johnson paid tribute to his grandfather Archie Johnson who served in the British Navy in both World War I and II.

“He was a man who didn’t speak a lot of his service,” he said.

“What he did say made you proud.”

He also remembered his father-in-law Stan Gough who served in World War II.

Originally from New Zealand, and now a police officer at Shepparton police, Mr Johnson spoke of members of his tribe, the Ngati Poru, who were killed in action, as well as two serving police officers who also died in war.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School student Olivia Jackson recited the poem ‘New generation veterans’ at the Remembrance Day service. Photo by Megan Fisher

Mr Johnson spoke of the “too many” who had died or were injured in fighting for Australia in World War I.

As many lay in cemeteries and unmarked graves throughout the world, memorials were erected in towns throughout Australia to those who had died.

On Remembrance Day each year, it is at these war memorials where people gather to remember the fallen, as well as those who served, or continue to serve.