By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
MOVING Anzac Day services in Pakenham and Officer over the weekend were fitting tributes for such a significant occasion.
At the Pakenham dawn service, veteran of several Middle East deployments Major Guy Warnock delivered a moving address to a crowd of 4000.
He debunked common Anzac myths and misconceptions.
“We’ve been told that the Anzacs were bronzed, strapping lads from the country, expert horsemen and crack shots when the reality was that urbanised Victoria and New South Wales provided the majority of our troops.
“Most were from cities and regional centres and most had never fired a gun before their enlistment,” he said.
The men were joining up to serve an Empire most had never actually seen.
Largely ignored by the rest of the world, Anzac Day was a significant event in Australian history, he said.
“And the First World War was the biggest, most far reaching and traumatic event to happen to Australia in the last 227 years,” he said.
“We are not remembering “war” and we are not celebrating “victory” – we are honouring men and women – real people, not just characters in history.”
Respectful remembrance was again the tone at the re-opening of the Memorial Gates at Officer.
First dedicated in 1951, the gates recognised the 10 Officer men killed in World War I and the five in World War II.
Saturday’s opening marked the end of a complex moving process which maintained the original stones of the gates.
In 2012 it was decided that the gates should be moved 30 metres from their original location to accommodate a new traffic intersection.
Speaking at the opening, councillor Brett Owen said that the gates were an important piece of local history.
“Officer is a much bigger place now but its community spirit has not waned,” he said.
“The Officer and District Community Association mobilised to ensure this important piece of local history was preserved and treated with the care and respect it deserved.”
