THE Anzac Day dawn service at Pakenham was personal for Bass MP Brian Paynter.
When it was his turn to address the large crowd that turned up to pay respects to those who gave their lives in various wars, Mr Paynter reflected on his own family’s shocking loss in World War II.
The previous year – the Anzac centenary – he remembered his grandmother’s brother, Martin Augustus Barry, who landed at Anzac Cove in 1915 with the second wave and remained at war for 1428 days before returning safely home to Australia.
“But not all of my relatives have been so lucky at war,” Mr Paynter said.
“My great uncle Walter Paynter enlisted in the Second World War and was swiftly sent to the Middle East, where he was wounded in fighting and died.
“His war lasted barely a year.”
Walter’s brothers Doug and Cyril, aged 20 and 21, enlisted within three days of one another and were both shipped to the island of Ambon as part of an Australian Battalion of 1100 men known as Gull Force, landing on December 17 1941.
Mr Paynter said the Japanese landed three battalions on Ambon during the night of January 30, 1942.
“In the four days of fierce fighting that followed, the Australian and Dutch troops on the island were forced to capitulate,” he said.
Doug was killed and Cyril was among almost 800 surviving Australians taken prisoner. He was one of the 75 per cent of POWs who would subsequently fall victim to the brutal conditions, disease and starvation.
“My three great uncles made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” he said.
“I also like to think that they gave their lives to ensure Australia has the freedoms and privileges that we enjoy every day of our lives.
“But with these freedoms come responsibilities – common decency and respect for all people, equally, both men and women, is one such responsibility and we must constantly hold each other to account on this issue.
“On this day I acknowledge the war efforts of our men and women for our great country.”
Eastern Victoria MP Daniel Mulino also attended the ceremony and joined Mr Paynter in laying wreaths on behalf of the State Government.
Guest speaker at the dawn service was Pakenham RSL member Major Guy Warnock, whose emotive and informative address appears in this week’s edition of the Pakenham-Berwick Gazette.
