RELATED: Your guide to Anzac Day 2017
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kangaroo Flat residents turned out in force to pay their respects to the suburb’s service men and women past and present on Tuesday in what RSL secretary Craig Chilver described as “one of the bigger ones”.
“We’ve had more wreaths today than we’ve ever had, I think there was something like 58 wreaths that were laid,” he said.
“The most special wreath was laid by Dot Handley and family that laid a wreath for the Rats of Tobruk and I think that was a very touching and poignant moment.”
Mr Chilver said the turnout was not just a reflection of renewed interest around the Gallipoli centenary, but part of a wider trend.
“If it was 2015 then yes, but it’s now 2017 and I believe it’s just getting bigger and bigger and the people are just there because it’s in the Australian psyche, so we’re looking at something that’s going to grow and grow.”
Mr Chilver said the renewed appreciation for the sacrifices made by all veterans during the past century had not gone unnoticed by those who returned.
“We had the veterans sitting here in the front row,” he said.
“They’ve realised it wasn’t a futile exercise for them … it’s the people lying in places unknown, in war graves, they’re the ones that don’t know about it.”