General News
3 May, 2024
District face at state service
WHILE most residents stayed local for Anzac Day commemorations, one resident has been riding at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the Melbourne Anzac Day service.
Corangamite Light Horse member George Coleman has been riding at the Melbourne service since the Anzac Centenary in 2015, when he was part of the now folded Creswick Light Horse Troop.
Mr Coleman said he was one of the 25 riders who rode from the Shrine of Remembrance to the MCG and has been a part of the Melbourne services since.
“Eventually, in 2018, I wound up being one of the horsemen on the ground for taking the torch around,” he said.
“When Creswick Light Horse eventually folded, the MCG approached us with the Corangamite Light Horse to continue doing it ever since.
“We’ve done it from 2019 through to now as the Corangamite Light Horse, except for 2020 with Covid-19.
“At this stage, it looks like it’s going to continue and happen every year.”
Mr Coleman said he is “immensely honoured” to be a regular feature of the Melbourne service.
“Once you get on that ground in front of all those people, it’s not a feeling that can be described to anyone in any real detail,” he said.
“It’s very humbling – it’s a huge honour, realistically. It’s just overwhelming.
“There’s so many veterans and soldiers riding around the ground with you.
“It’s rather emotional riding around there.”
Mr Coleman’s wife, Lisa, has joined him for Anzac Day marches regularly and shares his sentiment about the emotion behind the occasion.
“There’s a lot of emotions that go on, and it’s very hard to explain them,” she said.
“I’ve done it a few years with him, and this year I didn’t because things didn’t line up with having another kid.”
Mr Coleman said the bond with his horse has been a big help in his rides.
“I know I can ask her to go anywhere and do anything I need her to do without having to worry about her freaking out or having any issues doing what we ask of her,” he said.
“She’d ride into the pub if I asked her to.”
Mr Coleman said he wanted to give a shout-out to veterans across Australia.
“I know what it can be like for them returning home from war and all the mental strain they suffer,” he said.
“I just hope they can get the recognition and the assistance they require to transition back into everyday life.”