The tragic and wide-reaching effects of conflict were in focus at this year’s Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service, drawing a crowd of about 1000 attendees.
Emceed by Kyneton Royal Australian Navy veteran Luke Bordonaro at the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross and starting at 6am, this year’s theme was titled The Unseen Wounds of Conflict.
School captains from Kyneton High School presented the story of veteran James Gardiner Daniel, who fought in Gallipoli and whose parents lived on Bowen Street in Kyneton.
Captains from Braemar College shared the story of the late Colonel John Charles Barrie – known to most as Charlie – formerly from Kyneton.
Charlie’s granddaughter and a large group of his extended family travelled from interstate to attend the service.
Gisborne Secondary College students told moving story of Woodend resident Francis Donovan, who served as a medic in an infantry unit in the Vietnam War.
Francis also performed their song, ‘Bleed on Down’, which spoke about the on-going effects of war on service people and their families.
Wreaths were officially laid on behalf of a wide range of organisations and community groups, and the service concluded with a flypast by Kyneton AeroClub.
Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service committee president Leona Latcham said that this year’s theme “was a very important one that we hope resonated with those who attended.”
“The impacts experienced by people who serve can run deep and continue through generations of families long after the time of service has passed. By sharing powerful local veteran stories, we acknowledge those deep and long-running impacts including physical, mental and emotional wounds,” Ms Latcham said.
