Elsie Lange
Soaring above the heads of shivering crowds gathered at Mount Macedon Memorial Cross for Anzac Day, the Last Post rang through the hills and valleys of the Macedon Ranges once again.
For the first time since the pandemic began, attendees stretched out from the base of the looming cross over the hill’s crest to honour Australia’s veterans and those who helped them, as the sun began to rise.
Master of ceremonies, Afghanistan veteran and Mt Macedon Memorial Cross Committee chair, Alan Mitchell-Lappin, was delighted to see so much support for the commemoration on April 25.
“People coming out and remembering, acknowledging and reflecting, braving the temperatures and the altitude, it was just wonderful,” Mr Mitchell-Lappin said.
“All of our presenters, the students, they did a marvellous job… with such compassion and poignancy.”
The service included readings by students from various local high schools, acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who aided Australian soldiers while they served overseas and often go without recognition – the Papua New Guinean war carriers and and the interpreters in Afghanistan.
Wreaths were laid by a range of local organisations and representatives, including police, emergency services, government officials, veterans associations and schools.
The commemoration was organised by the Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service Committee and has been running since 2009 – Ruth De Jong from the organisation said it takes from October to April to get everything ready for the day.
She has a powerful connection to the service too – her grandfather was at the original landing of Australian soldiers at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.
“That’s how I became involved [with the committee], to honour my grandfather,” Ms De Jong said.
The ceremony was made even more stirring by the angelic harmonies of the Fellowship of the Sings, a local music group formed through the Gisborne Church of Christ.
One of the young singers, Holly Mowatt, said the group were nervous to sing to the large crowd, but realised it “was not a performance”.
Faith Zoch, another member of the youth group, said she felt like everyone watching was connected with them while they were singing.
“It was really beautiful, it was a really reverent and respectful experience and it was great to honour the Anzacs and the soldiers who served our country,” Ms Zoch said.
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas attended the service and said it was “incredible” to be back at the ceremony again, because she learnt something from them each year.
“I think it’s always important to look behind the myth, and to unpack the stories that are often not told,” Ms Thomas said.
“That’s what we heard today, when we heard the voices of the Papua and New Guineans, the Angels, and what we heard from the stories of the translators in Afghanistan.”
