Creswick Dawn Services - 2001 to 2005
2001 - It was remarkable. The fog had lifted, the wind had dropped, the flame flickered behind the white crosses, the peace and tranquility was almost tangible. The dawn was braking on another day. not just any day, but a very special day. This was the dawn of ANZAC Day 2001.
The young and the not so young came together as one. The service began, speeches were made, prayers were offered for the dead and the living, wreaths, and other floral tributes laid, the bugle sounded, the Light Horse Troop saluted, "On Flanders Fields" was read and the ceremony came to an end.
As people wandered off to the Farmers Arms for the traditional Gunfire Breakfast, or home for breakfast with family and fiends, and some home alone with nothing but their memories. i paused and looked back at the clearing cenotaph.
2001 and still wee gather, eighty-six years on ans still we gather. Now more than ever do i Understand the phase "Lest We Forget" (Anon.)
2001- Poignant memories stirred in the still grey Light preceding the dawn as 90 people, young and old, paid tribute as the floodlit Field of Crosses - four more this year, now 192 - where an eternal flame, representing the living spirit of ANZAC, brightly burned. A living border of bright yellow marigolds surrounding the precinct appeared a fitting wreath to the memory of gallant veterans to whom Legatee J.F. Sewell, AM paid tribute in the moving ANZAC Requiem, the Ode to the Fallen and, as innovation this year, the poem In Flanders Fields The Poppies Blow. Out of the darkness came the moving Response: Oh! You who sleep in Flanders' Fields. Sleep Sweet - to rise anew: We caught the torch you threw and, holding high, we kept the faith of those who died'. "If we treasure our freedom, our civil liberties, our free speech - our very lives in fact - should future threats develop and this country is again the target of an aggressor, then we will, all of us, need that true spirit of ANZAC. let us remain committed; we must Never Let It Die', Mr. Sewell said.
As the soul-stirring note of bugler Philip Zelley's Last Post faded, many a silent teat was dried as young Light Horse members mingled with veterans to pay personal homage and to later disperse to prepare for the day's commemoration with a hearty breakfast served by RSL members Daryl Hicks at this Farmers Arms Hotel. (Marj)
The young and the not so young came together as one. The service began, speeches were made, prayers were offered for the dead and the living, wreaths, and other floral tributes laid, the bugle sounded, the Light Horse Troop saluted, "On Flanders Fields" was read and the ceremony came to an end.
As people wandered off to the Farmers Arms for the traditional Gunfire Breakfast, or home for breakfast with family and fiends, and some home alone with nothing but their memories. i paused and looked back at the clearing cenotaph.
2001 and still wee gather, eighty-six years on ans still we gather. Now more than ever do i Understand the phase "Lest We Forget" (Anon.)
2001- Poignant memories stirred in the still grey Light preceding the dawn as 90 people, young and old, paid tribute as the floodlit Field of Crosses - four more this year, now 192 - where an eternal flame, representing the living spirit of ANZAC, brightly burned. A living border of bright yellow marigolds surrounding the precinct appeared a fitting wreath to the memory of gallant veterans to whom Legatee J.F. Sewell, AM paid tribute in the moving ANZAC Requiem, the Ode to the Fallen and, as innovation this year, the poem In Flanders Fields The Poppies Blow. Out of the darkness came the moving Response: Oh! You who sleep in Flanders' Fields. Sleep Sweet - to rise anew: We caught the torch you threw and, holding high, we kept the faith of those who died'. "If we treasure our freedom, our civil liberties, our free speech - our very lives in fact - should future threats develop and this country is again the target of an aggressor, then we will, all of us, need that true spirit of ANZAC. let us remain committed; we must Never Let It Die', Mr. Sewell said.
As the soul-stirring note of bugler Philip Zelley's Last Post faded, many a silent teat was dried as young Light Horse members mingled with veterans to pay personal homage and to later disperse to prepare for the day's commemoration with a hearty breakfast served by RSL members Daryl Hicks at this Farmers Arms Hotel. (Marj)
2002
No information available
No information available
2003
The largest gathering (estimated at 120), including many young people, attended this year's dawn service, on perfect autumn morning. The sounds of the Last Post, again ably played by bugler Phillip Zelley, a silent tribute followed by The Ode, Reveille and In Flanders Fields brought many memories to those who came to remember and pay tribute as they stood in the early morning light before a field of over 200 crosses, each of which bears the name of one who served from this community and has now gone. The service was again conducted by Jack Sewell A.M. and was followed by a "Gunfire Breakfast" courtesy of the Farmers Arms Hotel.
The largest gathering (estimated at 120), including many young people, attended this year's dawn service, on perfect autumn morning. The sounds of the Last Post, again ably played by bugler Phillip Zelley, a silent tribute followed by The Ode, Reveille and In Flanders Fields brought many memories to those who came to remember and pay tribute as they stood in the early morning light before a field of over 200 crosses, each of which bears the name of one who served from this community and has now gone. The service was again conducted by Jack Sewell A.M. and was followed by a "Gunfire Breakfast" courtesy of the Farmers Arms Hotel.
2004
Spirituality of the ANZAC legend was again symbolised at Creswick's Dawn Service by the largest crowd yet of some one hundred and fifty young in the cold, misty pre-dawn to revere the memories of all heroes in wars since Gallipoli. Focus was on the floodlit Field of two hundred Crosses this year, the work of ninety-one year old New Guinea Veteran, Arthur Bellingham over many years. Many colourful posies adorned the crosses at Arthur's special request.
Conducting the ceremony RAAF veteran and legatee, Jack Sewell, A.M. reminded those present to be determined, as the ranks of veterans diminished, to maintain ANZAC Day for reflection on our freedom and the futility of war and to remember those who paid the supreme sacrifice.
Deep emotions were stirred as the poignant notes of the Last Post and Reveille were sounded by fifteen year old Creswick Lighthorse Trooper, Sue Cohen, played on a bugle last used in France in 1917 by the grandfather of Lighthorse Chaplain, Michael Clark. A response by Adam Sewell to the grandfather's recitation of "In Flanders Fields by Mr Sewell was heard out of the darkness.
Spirituality of the ANZAC legend was again symbolised at Creswick's Dawn Service by the largest crowd yet of some one hundred and fifty young in the cold, misty pre-dawn to revere the memories of all heroes in wars since Gallipoli. Focus was on the floodlit Field of two hundred Crosses this year, the work of ninety-one year old New Guinea Veteran, Arthur Bellingham over many years. Many colourful posies adorned the crosses at Arthur's special request.
Conducting the ceremony RAAF veteran and legatee, Jack Sewell, A.M. reminded those present to be determined, as the ranks of veterans diminished, to maintain ANZAC Day for reflection on our freedom and the futility of war and to remember those who paid the supreme sacrifice.
Deep emotions were stirred as the poignant notes of the Last Post and Reveille were sounded by fifteen year old Creswick Lighthorse Trooper, Sue Cohen, played on a bugle last used in France in 1917 by the grandfather of Lighthorse Chaplain, Michael Clark. A response by Adam Sewell to the grandfather's recitation of "In Flanders Fields by Mr Sewell was heard out of the darkness.
2005
Where else, but Creswick, is there a ninety-three year old New Guinea veteran actively engaged in his home workshop making and inscribing over two hundred and thirty white crosses for his deceased mates? Only our own legendary Arthur Bellingham! He thanks so many who place posies. And who, but Creswick's statesman Jack Sewell A.M., New Guinea veteran and RSL Life member, standing under the floodlit memorial as moon-glow turned to sunlight on a perfectly calm ANZAC dawn, could reduce many of the hundred and sixty young and old to silent tears as he recited the poignant Requiem, Ode and In Flanders Fields?
Where else, but Creswick, is there a ninety-three year old New Guinea veteran actively engaged in his home workshop making and inscribing over two hundred and thirty white crosses for his deceased mates? Only our own legendary Arthur Bellingham! He thanks so many who place posies. And who, but Creswick's statesman Jack Sewell A.M., New Guinea veteran and RSL Life member, standing under the floodlit memorial as moon-glow turned to sunlight on a perfectly calm ANZAC dawn, could reduce many of the hundred and sixty young and old to silent tears as he recited the poignant Requiem, Ode and In Flanders Fields?