By Alana Mitchelson
GENERATIONS of families turned out to pay their respects to former serving ancestors on Remembrance Day in Pakenham and Officer.
Dozens of people gathered at the town cenotaph in Pakenham while hundreds congregated at the Officer Memorial Gates in silence to acknowledge the sacrifices made by servicemen and servicewomen.
Pakenham’s Ian Smith brought his grandchildren to pay tribute to their past serving family members.
He wore his father Stan Smith’s war medals while his three grandsons, Max, Jack and Harrison, attended the ceremony holding medals awarded to their great-grandfather Jack Dollman.
Norm Joseph from Pakenham laid a poppy at the foot of the cenotaph during the ceremony.
He served in the 18th Brigade during World War II, partly alongside his father Ben Joseph who also served in World War I.
Officer residents continued the tradition of tying poppies and sprigs to the memorial gates at the conclusion of the ceremony in honour of the fallen.
Betty Whiteside, the daughter of WWI returned soldier Sergeant Clair Whiteside and former local councillor, read the prayer prior to sharing a minute’s silence.
Officer and District Community Association vice-president Annette Aldersea said about 300 people attended the Officer service.
“We had a great turnout and a large number of school children, which is extremely pleasing,” she said.
“As always, it was a moving and lovely service.”
Students from Officer Secondary College acted as flag bearers while Officer Primary School students led the singing of the national anthem.
