By PETER DOUGLAS
AS the Anzac Day march proceeded down the Monbulk main street, and towards the town’s RSL, thousands lined the streets to pay their respects.
The Monbulk service proved to be a heartening collaboration of local community groups, which included the local CFA, police, Country Women’s Association, traders, schools and the RSL.
Among those present for the service were Yarra Ranges councillor Len Cox and federal Labor candidate Hovig Melkonian.
The service kicked off with a rendition of Aussie icon Jimmy Barnes’s ‘Working Class Man’ from the Monbulk Primary School.
Before her address, guest speaker Wendy Dennison from the CWA summed up the atmosphere.
“It makes you proud to live in Monbulk when you see all these faces,” she said.
Ms Dennison spoke from the heart, notably never having the chance to meet either of her grandfathers.
“One served in the army in World War I … like many who served their country he returned to Australia and found life difficult,” she said.
“He died of illness related to his war service.
“The other served in World War II and died a prisoner of war, working on the Changi Railway in Burma.”
Ms Dennison’s father also served on HMAS Sydney during the Korean War, with her husband serving in the Vitenam War.
She described them all as heroes.
“It must have been so hard for the mothers and wives of both men and boys who went off to fight,” she said.
“To look after their children and tend to their homes, waiting and praying their loved ones would return home.
“All the same time, thousands of miles away, the servicemen would be in their bunkers or trenches thinking of their families.”
Mr Dennison went on to read a poem, ‘Safe and well’, which was written by an unknown World War I soldier.
