The hauntingly atmospheric sound of bagpipes rang through the air as a kilted ensemble of pipers led the parade of cadets, ex-servicemen and women, their families and members of the community on a march from Watt Rd to the Cenotaph ahead of the Anzac Day service in Mooroopna.
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Mooroopna Rotary Club vice-president Ken Faulkner welcomed a catafalque party to stand guard over proceedings before introducing Noel Eaton to talk about a memorial plaque that had been installed in the rose garden at the Cenotaph site to recognise 100 years of Legacy.
Rotarian Kelvin Rogash read the requiem before local MPs, individuals and representatives of schools, clubs and organisations laid wreaths at the memorial.
Monsignor Peter Jeffrey led gatherers in a recital of The Lord’s Prayer, before Greater Shepparton Secondary College students Lucy and Stephanie Ludlow performed a moving rendition of Abide With Me.
The guest speaker at Mooroopna’s event was former serviceman and Goulburn Valley local Daniel Gleeson.
Mr Gleeson was born in Shepparton, attended school at Assumption College in Kilmore and graduated into a banking career, following in his father’s footsteps.
At age 20, however, he decided banking was not exciting enough for him and enlisted in the Australian Defence Force, joining the 3rd Royal Australian Regiment as a paratrooper.
During his time in the ADF, Mr Gleeson did tours in Timor Leste and Iraq and was awarded several medals of honour.
In his opening address, he thanked local schools for such a large representation at the event before launching into his speech.
“These services are not to glorify war, but to praise heroes,” Mr Gleeson said.
He spoke about how the meaning of Anzac Day to him had evolved throughout the years, where once as a junior soldier with no operational experience, Anzac Day was largely about a two-day celebration with fellow soldiers.
“We used to call it Diggers’ Christmas,” Mr Gleeson said.
“Nowadays, Anzac Day is a time for reflection.
“Reflecting on those before me, those who I served with and remembering mates who didn’t come home.
“It’s reflecting on family, trying to sense what they must have been going through when I was away.”
On April 25, 1915, Australian soldiers — some as young as 15 — found themselves wading ashore on a small beach in Turkey.
More than 36,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers were killed in battles at Gallipoli.
“In those terrible battles, young Australians earned a reputation for courage, self-reliance and mateship,” Mr Gleeson said.
“The experience drew Australians together as a nation and established our national character, the Aussie Digger.
“The standards they set, the Anzac spirit, has been handed down ever since to all Australian soldiers who followed them in subsequent wars and peacekeeping missions.
“That same spirit is represented among the diverse group of people I see here today.
“The Anzac spirit forged at Gallipoli must never be forgotten.
“I believe this is why Australians come together every Anzac Day
“We do it to remember the Anzacs and their achievements. We should remember them not as soldiers from a forgotten war, but as the young Australians they were in 1915.
Following Mr Gleeson’s address, students from Greater Shepparton Secondary College recited the poem In This Hallowed Day and sang both the Australian and the New Zealand national anthems; the latter first beautifully in Maori, then equally as charming in English.
Mr Rogash again graced the stage for an ode before a bugler played a stirring version of The Last Post, preceding a minute’s silence and a series of three-volley gunfire shots by a firing party.
Following the end of official proceedings, gatherers were invited to place one of the 200 poppies supplied at the event inside a gunshell.
Organiser and Mooroopna Rotarian Glenn Young estimated there were about 500 people in attendance.
He echoed Mr Gleeson’s sentiments about the number of students at the event.
“It’s great to see so many kids turn out for this,” Mr Young said.
“We get more and more each year.”