As ceremonies took place across the region in acknowledgment of Remembrance Day, there was a key message to be shared about the servicemen and women honoured on November 11 every year.
“We believe in our freedom, and we respect those people who died to keep that freedom for us,” Kilmore-Wallan RSL sub-branch president Rod Dally said.
The ceremony at Kilmore’s cenotaph on Saturday was attended by a large crowd of representatives from a range of different groups and organisations, including the Returned and Services League, RSL, schools of the area and sporting clubs among others.
Students from Assumption College, St Patrick’s Primary School, Kilmore Primary School and Willowmavin Primary School were on hand to lay wreaths, along with the community who were invited to present their own.
“This has been the biggest Remembrance Day service I can remember … I’m really pleased to see the kids getting involved,” Mr Dally said.
Mr Dally said it was important to teach the younger generations about the courage and commitment demonstrated by those who fought for their country, as they contributed greatly to the way Australians lived today.
“We have a society that is free at the moment, but you can always lose that freedom if you’re not prepared to defend it,” he said.
“The men of our defence forces today are exactly that category – they’re still there, they’re prepared and know that they may be asked to put themselves in harm’s way. That’s what we’ve got to remember.”
Services were well attended across the region, including Broadford, Doreen, Lancefield, Seymour, Wallan and Whittlesea.
