Residents throughout Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges paused to remember on Saturday, November 11, in honour of Australian lives lost in action.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross, with local RSLs and the Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service committee present.
It was the first time in a number of years that a ceremony was held at the Cross on Remembrance Day.
Event coordinator Dr Frank Donovan said it was important the visitors on Remembrance Day saw the wreaths at the cross to remember what it is there for.
“The cross was commissioned to commemorate the Australian lives lost in action in WWI and has since served to commemorate the Australian lives lost in all wars and war like deployments,” he said.
“[It was a] small service, Gary Andison was there in uniform to perform the last post, and the Woodend and Gisborne RSL presidents [both] laid a wreath.
“[Along with] the chair of the Memorial Cross Committee of Management and chair of the Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service committee.”
Dr Donovan said the importance of Remembrance Day lies in Gaza.
“It’s important that the freedoms we enjoy here today are preserved, and it’s equally important that we understand the cost of that freedom,” he said.
“We need to be reminded of those costs and ought to serve as a caution to governments before they make the decision to go to war.”
The Sunbury RSL also held a commemoration service and wreath laying ceremony at the Monument at Memorial Hall.
Secretary Harry Beckwith said the service is important to pay homage to the troops that served and those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
Zoe Moffatt
