Major Dennis Weston speaks to the crowd. Photo by Ben O’Malley.
The silence was thick during the 11:00am Remembrance Day service, showing the respect that Junee has for the day. A group of roughly one hundred people all shared a singular moment in silence at the Cenotaph which was a service put on by Junee RSL Sub-Branch.
Starting with the mounting of the catafalque party and the one-minute silence, the service then transitioned into a prayer for the fallen and injured by Father Paddy Sykes before Greg Zakharoff, President of the Sub-Branch, opened the service.
Major Dennis Weston of the Australian Defence Force gave a commemorative address, before, In Flanders Fields was read by Junee High School students Ruby Lemmich and Madi Hazel.
Mark Cook, Junee Legacy President, gave a commemorative address before the laying of wreaths.
The Ode, The Last Post and a minute’s silence before Reveille became the Australian National Anthem as the service approached its conclusion.
David Hilliard gave a prayer for peace and protection of the Australian Defence Force and the service was finished.
Greg Zakharoff said it was a good day for the town, especially for a Monday.
“We had some good representation from the primary schools around town. The two school captains from Junee High School recited Flanders Fields for us. We got some nice comments from people,” he said.
“It means a lot. It means that people are absorbing our heritage and that means a lot to me. Adults will talk to their children and their children will talk to their children and keep our heritage where it really should be in the forefront of our lives.
“Key speakers were Major Dennis Weston from the Australian Defence Force and Mark Cook who is the President of Junee Legacy. Their speeches were really nice. They emphasised the importance of Remembrance Day and what Legacy does for the dependents of deceased service personnel.
“They were very well received. It was nice to see such a good roll-up. It was a cool day weather-wise. The important thing is that people attend. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or who you are, it’s just that people turn up.
“The big thing again this year is that we invited people to pick a poppy out of the little basket and place their own poppy as a persona of remembrance there.
“Sixty or seventy people went up there and placed their poppy down and that meant a lot to us too because it involved people.
“I’m very proud of the kids that turned up from the schools and took time off school and the two captains from Junee High School, they were just delightful young people.”
It was a sombre occasion that marked a very important date for many of Junee’s townsfolk.
-Jack Murray
