Micheal McCormack and Neil Smith at Friday’s Remembrance Day Ceremony.
Junee RSL’s work paid off on Remembrance Day as many of the Junee community came out to pay their respects at the service that once again showed the dedication Junee have for retired and current servicemen and women.
The day started with a service at the Junee Cenotaph with speeches from Junee RSL President Greg Zakharoff, Minister Michael McCormack and the special guest: Dr Kathryn Spurling.
There was a mournful and uninterrupted silence as Junee stood for the Last Post and reflected on the sacrifices made by those who fought for the country.
The service was followed by an afternoon panel where people could ask Dr Spurling questions and discuss military history at the Ex-Services, which went as smoothly as the morning service according to Mr Zakharoff.
“It went about as good as it could go,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone for turning up, it was a terrific roll up.
Dr Spurling’s address was beautiful. It was wonderful. Many people came up to us after the service to congratulate us.
“About 25 people turned up to [Dr Spurling’s panel] which is very good. Short and sweet, went for about an hour and ten minutes. “Most people got engaged and spoke about things.
“Kathryn and I go back to when we were 18 years of age so I threw a few curly questions that took the wind out of her sail a bit. “It was a lovely day. Not a complaint. Nothing.
“I’d like to thank Neil Smith and the Council because they really helped us get things set up.
“I actually got the ships bell from the Council Chambers and took it home with me. I polished up the bell and it’s down at the Services Club now.”
Mr Zakharoff misplaced his Australian Service Medal at the Remembrance Day ceremony on Friday morning, however the medals have since been found and returned to him.
“Someone has picked it up in good faith and doesn’t realise how important these things are to individuals.
It’s the sentimental value of it,” he said. Thankfully the medals have now been returned to Mr Zakharoff.
On 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare on a scale no soldier had seen previously.
With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice in Versailles, bringing to an end the First World War.
As a mark of respect to those who have served, Australians pause at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day on the eleventh month to observe one minute’s silence and remember those who died or suffered for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conflicts.
In Australia and other allied countries, including New Zealand, Canada and the United States, 11 November became known as Armistice Day – a day to remember those who died in World War One.
After World War Two, the Australian Government agreed to the United Kingdom’s proposal that Armistice Day be renamed Remembrance Day to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars.
Presently, the loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts is commemorated on Remembrance Day. All over the world, Remembrance Day is a respected day with services everywhere including one in the UK which had King Charles lead the ceremony, the first time as King. Canberra held the National Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
The National Ceremony was held in the Captain Reg Saunders Courtyard, the first such ceremony to be held without social restrictions since 2019.
The ceremony was attended by the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and his wife, Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley.
All around the world, a moment of complete silence was experienced all the way over in the UK to the Cenotaph sitting on Junee’s Broadway Street.
Jack Murray