Community honours fallen heroes

THE Cobden and district community came together last Wednesday to honour war veterans buried at the Cobden Cemetery.

By wd-news

Australian flags were placed beside the graves of more than 95 veterans buried at the Cobden cemetery last week.

More than 95 war veterans’ final resting places were recognised in the annual initiative which saw Australian flags temporarily placed besides graves.

The number of veterans recognised in this year’s service has continued to increase from the 37 acknowledged in the inaugural year of the initiative in 2021.

The project, which culminated with a community ceremony at the cemetery, was a joint effort of the Cobden Technical School and Cobden Cemetery Trust.

For the first time the ceremony also had representatives of all Cobden schools, with Cobden Primary School and Hampden Specialist School students joining the service.

Cobden Technical School curriculum leader Narelle Holliday was pleased with how the service went.

“The Anzac service on Wednesday, Anzac Day eve, at the Cobden Cemetery was a beautiful tribute to our servicemen and women,” she said.

“It was pleasing to share the efforts of the students in meticulously cleaning the graves of our veterans, accompanied by the raising of the almost 100 Australian flags with the local community members who attended.

“It was a touching display of respect and gratitude.”

Ms Holliday said it was a privilege to emcee the 30-minutre service, which was shared with the community and cemetery trust.

“It was lovely to see the students from Cobden Technical School and Hampden Specialist School sharing this time with the cemetery trust and the community,” she said.

“It is such a visual reminder to the younger people of the district how many families were affected by war in the local area.”