Time stands still in Shepparton as veterans, community remembers

By Max Stainkamph

Nov 11, 2021

Lest we forget: The row of crosses and poppies for Shepparton and Mooroopna soldiers who died in service. Pictures: Rodney Braithwaite Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

As the clock struck 11am on Thursday, at the corner of Welsford and Fryers Sts in Shepparton the world seemed to stop as The Last Post played.

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Trucks and cars still moved around as life in 2021 continued to scurry past unabated, but for the 150 attendees of the Shepparton Remembrance Day service, and the 100 students from Bourchier St Primary School, time shifted.

From 96-year-old Joe Clarke, who remembered the World War II battles he saw in Papua New Guinea, Borneo and Japan, down to two-year-old Matilda ‘Poppy’ Parker, who wore her father’s medals from his service in East Timor, the attendees were no longer in Shepparton.

They were in South Africa more than 100 years ago, remembering the Boer War. They were in the trenches of the First World War and in the Pacific and at the Western Front for World War II.

They were in Vietnam, where Shepparton RSL Sub Branch president Bob Wilkie and guest speaker Des Callaghan, RSL Victoria state senior vice-president, served.

Even as an ambulance sped past toward the end of the minute’s silence, the minds of attendees were in Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor and the sites of countless other conflicts and peacekeeping missions Australian service men and women have served and died in.

Nick Von Guttner was the head of the catafalque party and said standing in front of the crowd on Remembrance Day was a “very human experience”.

“We need to value the veterans who are still with us; my great-grandfather fought in the Second World War and is still with us,” he said.

“He talks about it and remembers it and we should be thankful to be with them.”

Shepparton RSL Sub Branch president Bob Wilkie said he was glad to be able to hold the service.

“There’s been a lot of uncertainty and we had to make a few decisions early and we were lucky to have it today,” Mr Wilkie said

“It was another successful service and we appreciate everyone who turned up.

“It's a special day.”