By EMMA SUN
RECORD numbers attended the Mount Evelyn RSL’s Dawn Service on Anzac Day.
Community groups and residents from far and wide piled into the war memorial on the corner of Wray Crescent and Birmingham Road, forming a sea of people.
RSL president Roger Boness said the attendance at the dawn service almost tripled the number who went to the pre-Anzac Day service the Sunday before, which was an amazing sight.
“We had an unexpected huge crowd – it was just wall to wall of people, all the way around,” he said.
“It was unbelievable, but at the same time, it was very gratifying to see so many community members and groups come out and bring their families.
“As far as the Anzac spirit living on, I’d suggest that in our community, that spirit is in very good hands because the younger generations were there in force and also assisted in the service.”
Speeches and readings were made by various community identities from groups and organisations, including the CFA, the Scouts and the football netball club.
But the special moment came when Reverend Richard Schoenmaker from the Mount Evelyn Christian Reformed Church did the Lord’s Prayer.
“As we were reciting the Lord’s Prayer, the dawn started to break and kookaburras and magpies were singing around the trees in the park,” he said.
“It was like you couldn’t plan it any better, people were spellbound and really added to the ambience of the dawn service in the Mount Evelyn bush.”
The group then went back to the club house, where Mount Evelyn’s living treasure, the late Dr Bill Hardy’s name was unveiled on the club’s memorial wall.
Doc Hardy’s children Peter, John and Christine did the unveiling in the presence of RSL members and Doc Hardy’s friends.
“They were very appreciative and thanked the RSL for all we’ve done on their behalf,” Mr Boness said.
“We know that Doc Hardy was a huge public identity in the community of Mount Evelyn for most of his working life, and we know that he touched many, many people so it was very fitting.”
Mr Boness said Mount Evelyn RSL’s Anzac Day service had risen in popularity each year and spread far and wide.
But it was still a surprise when the RSL was greeted by a group of cyclists from Melbourne Cycling, who had ridden down from Lilydale and wanted to pay their respects in Mount Evelyn.
It was a special moment for all, with the group getting a chance to have an Anzac moment and lay a wreath at Mount Evelyn’s historical war memorial in the presence of Mr Boness.
“Those cyclists were riding to Warburton on the trail so they could’ve paid their tribute anywhere along the trail, but they chose mount Evelyn and that in itself was a special arrangement,” he said.
The day was wrapped up with the club’s traditional 2-UP at the York on Lilydale and drinks.
“It was a day well spent – we had the biggest crowd I’d ever seen at the service, and by the end of yesterday we were pretty well looking for a place to lay down,” he said.
“I believe people will feel satisfied in their own minds that they’ve remembered and participated with their colleagues – they were side to side and everyone was one and the same, shoulder to shoulder, rank after rank.”
