Corowa High School Year 10 student Emily Severin delivering her Remembrance Day address.
Australia’s contribution to war conflicts and a welcome return by school students to Remembrance Day were highlights at Corowa and Rutherglen’s services last Friday.
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With Covid preventing students from involvement over the last two years, Corowa High School Year 10 student Emily Severin delivered this year’s Remembrance Day address.
At 5.00am on 11 November 1918, the armistice terms were agreed to and the armistice became effective at 11.00am the same day. As the guns fell silent on the Western Front in France and Belgium, four years of hostilities ended.
The ‘Great War’ cost the lives of over 20 million people globally and 60,000 Australians.
Pictured with the Catafalque party are Rutherglen Primary School Captains Evelyn, Jasmine and Ella, Rutherglen RSL Sub-Branch President Craig Williams right and left David Martin OAM.
In Australia and other allied countries, including New Zealand, Canada and the United States, 11 November became known as Armistice Day – a day to remember those who died in the Great War.
Corowa resident Heather Leadbetter proudly wore medals and laid a wreath in respect of her late father, Vietnam Veteran Albert (Terry) Bullock of Queenscliff who passed away on October 22.
After WW2, the Australian Government agreed to the United Kingdom’s proposal that Armistice Day be renamed Remembrance Day to honour those killed in both World Wars.
In her address, Emily said that as a nation, Australia played its part in each of these conflicts, supporting our allies and sending troops who fought bravely. “In spite of our small population and military, Australian forces proved themselves to be extremely valuable in each of these conflicts,” she said.
Corowa RSL Sub-Branch President Martin Magill, and Master of Ceremonies and secretary Tony Dunne OAM, with bugler Joanne Howell playing The Last Post.
“This spirit of brave sacrifice and nobility has become an integral part of the way we see ourselves as Australians - the ANZAC identity. Mateship and integrity sit at the heart of who we are and, importantly, these are the reasons we are here today.
Bugler Joanne Howell. It was her 25th year playing the bugle in Corowa, this time at last Friday’s Remembrance Day service.
“However, while today marks a significant point at the end of the First World War, we must remember that it was not, as promised, ‘the war to end all wars’. Today, war continues to be waged between disputing powers in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, where Russian forces continue to mount offensives against Ukranian forces - a reminder of the destructive nature of modern warfare.
“Today it is important that we take time to commemorate all of those Australians that have served, or continue to serve, this nation.”
Students from Corowa Primary School, Corowa South Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School were among those who laid wreaths.
MC for Corowa’s Remembrance Day was Corowa RSL Sub-Branch secretary Tony Dunne OAM, Sub-Branch President Martin Magill recited The Ode, and Reverend Richard Keith from Corowa Presbyterian Church delivered the Lord’s Prayer and Benediction.
For the 25th year, Joanne Howell officiated as bugler. Despite her move to Wangaratta, she loves being involved in Corowa’s most important days including Anzac Day.
“It’s an honour,” Joanne said, before heading to Karinya for the residential aged care’s service.
Mr Magill was delighted to see the re-engagement of school students for Remembrance Day and the estimated 100 people attending the service.
“The Sub-Branch is most appreciative of the support given by the Corowa and district community of the money raised through the sale of Remembrance Day tokens,” the president added.
he Rutherglen Primary School students presented wreaths and the eternal flame at Rutherglen’s service which welcomed a Catafalque party from the Engineering School in Bandiana. School captains, Evelyn, Jasmine and Ella did an outstanding job, spoke extremely well and recited a moving poem.
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