Sport
29 April, 2021
Locals pay their respects for Anzac Day
LOCALS from Terang and Mortlake flocked to pay their respects at Anzac Day services last Sunday.
LOCALS from Terang and Mortlake flocked to pay their respects at Anzac Day services last Sunday.
The occasion marked the first time residents could openly attend services since 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions last year.
Terang Returned and Services League (RSL) president Terry Fidge welcomed the opportunity for members of the public to attend the Anzac services and said he was thrilled with the turnout.
“The day went very well,” he said.
“We’ve estimated approximately 250 people attended the dawn service, which was very well received, and the 10am service was also well attended.”
The 10am service drew a crowd in the hundreds despite the cancellation of the street parade, with two light horsemen leading those laying wreaths along the avenue to the Terang War Memorial.
Members of the Terang RSL also took the opportunity to celebrate the club’s centenary, adjoining the celebration with the Anzac Day services.
The celebration was marked with 98-year-old Terang RSL veteran Len Pomeroy conducting a ribbon cutting and balloon release.
“The centenary was a special milestone in itself,” Mr Fidge said.
“Terang RSL is still an independently owned RSL which does not belong to RSL Victoria.
“We hold the titles to our hall and have trustees who administer it. There is only a small handful of RSL clubs who still own their own building.
“This is a building for the local community to use in any way we can.”
The centenary was a special occasion for current members who hold a connection to the past and community alike through a family lineage of membership.
Terang RSL secretary-treasurer Pam Bell said she and fellow member Dianne Meade both had parents who served as RSL members throughout their lives.
“Our mothers were both members and our fathers were ex service men,” she said.
“We have pictures of our relatives displayed in the hall which were taken during the building of the Terang RSL hall in 1950, before I was even born.
“My father and uncles were all involved in the initial building of this hall, so I am very proud to be associated with the Terang RSL.”
Ms Bell said she was asked to take over as secretary-treasurer in 1996, and fondly considers the past, present and future of the club.
“Even now I can look back through these old photos, picking out my dad and my uncles, and see what a change there is in the hall,” she said.
“It has just been built and built through strong leadership in our presidents and members.”
Terang RSL member Don Bowden said his membership with the club was a way of giving back and honouring his father.
“My father was a Rat of Tobruk,” he said.
“I came from Gippsland originally, and my father passed away when I was six years old.
“I wear his medals, and this is how I’m paying it back.”
In Mortlake locals were greeted with fleeting sunshine at the Anzac Day services on Sunday.
Mortlake RSL president Merv Hampson said it was a successful day, with hundreds attending to pay their respects.
“We had a very good day with good numbers considering we had no idea what was going to happen, and we had a good turn up at the RSL hall for morning tea afterwards so we’re very happy with the day,” he said.
Pipers from the Terang Pipe Band led the procession down Dunlop Street, from the post office to the Mortlake War Memorial, with local police and the Country Fire Authority helping to briefly block off the highway to allow the marchers safe passage.
“We had a couple of army reserves and some army cadets there so it was a diverse crowd,” Mr Hampson said.
He said the response from the community had been overwhelming to both the march and the recent Anzac badge efforts.
“We haven’t had a final tally yet but it is going to be a very good effort,” Mr Hampson said.
“I would estimate we will be in excess of $2000 which is a great result for Mortlake.
“We’d also like to thank the pipers from Noorat and Terang who came over; they come over every year for us and they’re terrific.”
Moyne Shire councillor Ian Smith laid a wreath on behalf of the Moyne Shire council.
“It was a very well supported service and a tremendous effort by the RSL to put on such a wonderful event,” he said.
“It was a very respectful service and very well done by the committee of the Mortlake RSL.
“There was an excellent turnout for both the march and service, considering there was a little bit of uncertainty with the COVID-19 situation.”
Cr Smith said members of the Mortlake RSL held a wonderful morning tea at the recently refurbished hall following the service.
