RECORD crowds attended Maffra’s Anzac Day commemorations.
Before the sun rose, medals of service adorning warm jackets glinted under streetlights as one of Maffra’s largest dawn services gathered in remembrance.
People began assembling at the corner of Johnston Street and Foster St as early as 5.30am. When the dawn service commenced at 6am, a crowd surpassing 400 people had amassed.
Richard Kors, president of the Maffra RSL Sub-Branch, officiated the day’s events.
At the dawn service, Mr Kors recounted that 109 years ago, and about an hour earlier than crowds gathered last Thursday, soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed on the western coastline of the Gallipoli Peninsula at 4.30am on April 25, 1915.
“By the end of that day, over 16,000 soldiers had surged to shore, of which more than 2000 were dead or injured,” he said.
“These men did not set out to be immortalised. But their conduct on that day and over the subsequent months has made them immortal, securing their place in the national subconscious.
“This morning, we pay our respects to those who served at that time and to those that have followed in their footsteps.”
Among those paying their respects on Thursday was the No. 32 Squadron RAAF, based in East Sale, four of whom made up the Catafalque party. A tradition that has become a part of Anzac Day, the Catafalque party stood approximately two metres from all four corners of the Cenotaph, facing outward as a sign of respect.
Following Kevin Christensen, vice president of the Maffra RSL Sub-Branch, who recited the ANZAC Requiem, Northern Ward Councillor Carolyn Crossley laid a wreath on behalf of the Wellington Shire. At the same time, Mr Christensen and Wing Commander Marcus Watson, commanding officer of the No. 32 Squadron, also placed wreaths at the base of the Cenotaph.
As the sun rose, illuminating a once-darkened footpath outside the Maffra Library, attendees slowly dispersed. Some took their time acknowledging the flower wreaths surrounding the Cenotaph. Others ventured home or to the gunfire breakfast hosted by the Maffra RSL Sub-Branch.
The intermission between commemorative events was short, as by 8.30am, people had lined the service road parallel to Johnston St.
At 9am, parents wrangled kids running across the street, and conversations hushed as Maffra’s Municipal Band – led by Colin McQuillen – marched south along the service road between the rotunda and library.
No. 32 Squadron RAAF stationed at East Sale, local CFA, veterans and their families and students from Maffra Primary School and St. Mary’s Primary joined the procession. A vintage Willys Jeep followed them.
Convening around the Cenotaph, RAAF Wing Commander Watson and St Mary’s Parish Priest, Father Edwin Ogbuka, who reminded people to keep those living with the physical and mental scars of war in their thoughts, addressed the crowd.
When discussing Anzac Day with those unfamiliar with its history, Mr Kors explained how he is often asked why we commemorate a military defeat.
“There are many ways to answer this question,” he said.
“The services that are held by Australian and New Zealand people over the world are not about glorifying war, but about a commitment by our nations to never forget the sacrifice of our people who fought for our freedom and for our way of life.”
“As the years have passed, this day has also become about the ANZAC Spirit shown by our brave men and women, who have followed in the footsteps of our first ANZACS,” Mr Kors said as he addressed the crowd.
“On this day, we now commemorate the lives of those who died in the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, and in peacekeeping operations around the world.”
Speaking to the Gippsland Times after the service, Mr Kors was especially pleased with the crowds that attended Maffra’s dawn service.
“This morning, we had, I believe, the largest turnout that we’ve ever had for a dawn service here in Maffra.”
“The people of Maffra just amaze me every single year,” Mr Kors said.
“We’d have had easily 450 people here for the dawn service this morning. It was just amazing.”
He was delighted with the young locals he saw at both services.
“To have them coming down and learning about our history and learning about why we remember these people in our service and hopefully bearing for a future where we don’t need to worry about anything like this again – that hope, that one day we can figure out in this world, how to live peacefully,” he said.
These sentiments were mirrored by Northern Ward Councillor, Carmel Ripper, who said Anzac Day was among the “most important days” councillors recognise in the year.
She was one of many attendees dressed for the occasion, wearing a hand-beaded vest depicting poppies her late sister had made.
Cr Ripper, like other service men and women, veterans and children, proudly wore service medals, including one recognising her 20 years of service, 11 of which she served in East Sale after joining the Women’s Royal Australian Airforce in 1975.
After attending a large dawn service in Stratford, Cr Ripper said she believes the crowds grow each year.
“My thoughts this morning in Stratford at the dawn service and here (at Maffra’s morning service), are that if every group on Anzac Day – every RSL – had two people, possibly a man or a woman, who trotted off to the recruiting centre and applied to join the services of all Australia, I think I’d be very proud,” she said.
