By Matthew Sims
Hundreds of Officer community members and residents braved the chilly and rainy weather as part of the Officer Anzac Day dawn service.
Organised by the Officer and District Community Association and the Officer Kangaroos Junior Football Club, association member Michael Petrovich said the service continued to grow in popularity every year, especially in the support it received from local schools.
Officer CFA brigade member Andrew Dye was the piper on the day, providing a rousing prelude to the service before the flags were lowered to half-mast and the crowd fell silent for a minute before the service began.
Cardinia Council Beacon Hills Ward councillor Brett Owen was the MC of the service, speaking about the hard work of the late former association president Rob Porter in hosting the service since its inception in 2016.
“Rob was one of the main drivers of the Memorial Gates and this service,” he said.
“Rob was an amazing person and an integral part of his community.”
Mr Owen said the service was an opportunity to reflect on those who have served for Australia.
“We come together in the memory of those who have served or continue to serve for Australia,” he said.
“We think of them with gratitude.”
Cardinia Council Officer Ward councillor Tammy Radford spoke during the service about how the sense of mateship and strength in overcoming adversity of the ANZACs was something the country continued to strive towards.
“We reflect that our nation was supported by the bravery and camaraderie of our diggers,” she said.
“Anzac Day reminds us of who we are and who we can be.”
Rob Porter’s son Geoff recited a poem, Officer Primary School school captains Hailey Williamson and Joshua Loftus recited a prayer, while local returned officer John Tivendale then recited the Ode.
A number of local community organisations, schools and groups laid wreaths during the service, including Pakenham-Officer SES, Officer CFA, , Officer Cricket Club, Beaconsfield-Officer Scout group, Officer Secondary College, St Clare’s Primary School, Heritage College, St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, Bridgewood Primary School, Orchard Park Primary School, Officer Primary School and Kurmile Primary School.
The Officer Kangaroos Junior Football Club and the Officer-Woorinyan (Upper Beaconsfield) Country Women’s Association provided breakfast, tea and coffee after the service, while Bellevue Orchard provided juices.
Officer has had its own dawn service since 2016, held at the Memorial Gates of the Officer Recreation Reserve – the only memorial of its kind in Cardinia Shire.
