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Creswick ANZAC Day Service 2021

Wreath Laying Services

Soldiers Graves, Creswick Cemetery - 09:30am
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Photos courtesy: Terry Hope Productions & Phil Greenbank
Memorial Stones, RSL Hall - 09:45am
Each year as a WW2 Veteran, Jack Sewell would lay the RSL's wreath at the Memorial Stones in front of the RSL Hall, to remember all though who served in the 2nd Would War and following conflicts. Unfortunately we lost Jack in December last year. This year the wreath was laid by RSL President Alan Morris.
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​Photos courtesy: Terry Hope Productions

Assembly and March off for the ANZAC Day Parade at 10:30am
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RAAF veterans, Tom Runnalls and Brian Reasons lead this years parade for the RAAF's Centenary 2021
Photos courtesy: Terry Hope Productions
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ANZAC Day Service. Cenotaph. Albert St. Creswick
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Introduction - Mr Alan Morris, President Creswick-Smeaton RSL Sub-Branch
 
We would like to acknowledge we are meeting on Jaara people country, of which members and elders of the Dja Dja Wurrung community and their forebears have been custodians for many centuries.
On this land, the Jaara people have performed age old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal.
We acknowledge their living culture and their unique role in the life of this region.
 
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

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This year the Royal Australian Air Force celebrated its 100th birthday.
The two gentlemen who led todays march are both RAAF veterans, Tom Runnalls served during WW2 and Brian Reasons served post WW2. We also have personnel from RAAF Laverton who joined us in todays march.

The Australian Flying Corps which was established in 1912 was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I, and was the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). 
Back in January 1920, the Australian Flying Corps became the Australian Air Corps and, on the 31st March 1921, became the Australian Air Force. The King's consent was obtained to become the Royal Australian Air Force on the 13th August 1921.

In the European theatre of the second world war, RAAF personnel were especially notable in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command. Total RAAF casualties in Europe were 5,488 killed or missing.
Hundreds of RAAF members became prisoners of war in Germany and Italy, as well as a smaller number in the Far East. 

​The RAAF's casualties in the Pacific were around 2,000 killed, wounded or captured.
At the end of the WW2 the total RAAF casualties in all theatres were 10,562.

William Parkes was born in Creswick and worked as a Public Servant in His Majesty’s Customs.  On the 4th August 1915, at the age of 23 years, he enlisted in Adelaide. After initial training he embarked from Adelaide on the SS Runic in January 1916, and  disembarked at Marseilles in March. Transferred to 7th Brigade, Machine Gun Company and served with the  7th Australian Machine Gun Company until he was hospitalised with a septic right ankle. He then  transferred to the Australian Flying Corps and completed training where he graduated as a pilot and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 14th August 1918. On 1st September 1918 he was killed in an aeoplane accident at Tetbury, Gloucestershire and is buried at Leighterton Cemetary in the United Kingdom.
William is remembered here on this Cenotaph and also in pride of place at the front of the Field of Crosses.

There are a total of 11 soldiers remembered in the WW1 Field of Crosses who served in the Australian Flying Corps.

Reading of poems by the local Primary Schools;
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Creswick North PS - "For the fallen" by Laurence Binyon:
Creswick PS - " A Tribute to Anzac Day "  by Ken Bunker :
St Augustine's PS - "Anzac Day March"  by  D. Hunter :   
Newlyn PS - "Sir"  by Damian Morgan :
Mount Blowhard PS – "Not a Hero" : Captains - Coper Tyndall & Grace Porter & Vice Captains -Isabelle Loader & Domonique Eldridge.
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Creswick North PS
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Creswick PS
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St. Augustine's PS
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Newlyn PS
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Mt. Blowhard PS

​Prayer.     Rev Chris Keast  Anglican Church.

Hymn. ABIDE WITH ME. 
Cr Tim Drylie  - with Maureen Andrew


​Abide with me, fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide’
When other helpers fail and comfort flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
 
I need thy presence every passing hour.
What for the grace can foil the tempter’s power
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be,
Through cloud and sunshine; Lord abide with me.
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Laying of Wreaths - with music by the Creswick Brass Band 
On behalf of The Hon Catherine King MP -  Janet Bradshaw 
Ms Louise Staley MP for Ripon
Hepburn Shire - Cr Don Henderson
Creswick-Smeaton RSL           
C.O Defence International Training Centre

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Creswick Brass Band
Creswick Light Horse Troop
Creswick Legacy.
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Creswick Red Cross
Creswick CFA
Creswick Lions Club
Creswick IGA
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Creswick PS
Creswick Nth PS
Newlyn PS
St Augustine's PS.
Mt Blowhard PS
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Anglican Parish of Springmount
Creswick Senior Citizens.
Creswick Probus Club
Creswick U3A
Creswick Garden Club
Creswick Scouts and Cubs
Farmers Arms Hotel
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Friends of Park Lake
RACV Goldfields Resort
Creswick Football Netball club
Creswick Bowling Club
Creswick Historical Society
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Creswick Museum
John Curtin Aged Care Centre
Central Highlands Rural Health Services
Robert Gowling
Cameron Ford
Mr John Lambert
Colleen Dooley
Randall Milne
Members of the Public.
Wreath Laying Ceremony                                                                      Photos Courtesy: Terry Hope Productions and Phil Greenbank
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​Inscribed on this Cenotaph are the names of those who paid the supreme sacrifice, and also on many other Cenotaphs throughout Australia and in Foreign Lands  many other names are inscribed. 
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We gather here today, humble and contrite, and in respect for those gallant men and women.
Hallowed in Christ be the memory of the brave men and women who died in these wars for the freedom of the world. They were young, straight of limb, true of eye, they were staunch to the end against odds uncounted.
They fell with their faces to the foe.


The Ode 

Last Post.  Bugler - Suzi Koene

Silence

Rouse. 

New Zealand and Australian National Anthems  --- Sung By  Cr Tim Drylie with Maureen Andrew
God Defend New Zealand
 
God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
 
Men of every creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.
Advance Australia Fair
 
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen. That concludes our service for today. 
I  would now like to hand over to Phil Greenbank who will launch the RSL's book  "Reflections- The Shire and Borough of Creswick and the Great War". 
Book Launch
Ode of Remembrance

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them