By Parker McKenzie
Anzac Day was commemorated by Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully residents on Tuesday 25 April at a dawn service held at Ferntree Gully Quarry Reserve.
Former Knox City Mayor Karin Orpin said 108 years ago today, the Azac forces landed at Gallipoli.
“We have joined together here in this beautiful setting to reflect and give thanks for the sacrifices of those who died in that campaign. And in the campaigns that follow the First World War,” she said.
“We also commemorate and give thanks for the ultimate sacrifice of all those who died for this country and for those who serve today.”
She said you can look around and see the freedoms we have and what rights they protected.
“These are the things that they believed in, and the relevance of our settings morning, and its links to that fateful day in 1915, and deliberately are also remembered,” Ms Orpin said.
“The 23rd battalion from this area was led by a 30-year-old commander by the name of George Hodges Knox who our city is named after.”
Chris Marwick read an account of the landing at Gallipoli on Sunday 25 April 1915.
“One soldier in the first wave from the seventh Australian infantry battalion was 20-year-old Sergeant William Walter James Head from Upper Ferntree Gully,” he said.
Ms Orpin said following the battle of Lone Pine Ridge, a young soldier named Lance Corporal Benjamin Smith collected and sent the cones ot his mother Jane, who raised seedlings from them.
“ From that seedling many 1000s have been propagated and one is planted here at the Ferntree Gully Quarry Reserve as a constant remembrance and tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us,” she said.
Rohan Laing next paid tribute to those who served Australia during wartime.
“approximately 417,000 or 39% of the Australian male population aged between 18 to 44 served in World War One, one in five lost their lives,” he said.
“almost 1 million Australian men and women served in World War Two 727,000 in the military alone, over 72,000 lives were lost. Over 65,000 Australians served in the Korean and Vietnam wars and over 26,000 saw active service in Afghanistan.
“We take a moment to acknowledge those from Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
An honour roll of those from Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully who died during Australia’s wars was then read out by Mr Laing.
Wreaths were laid by representatives from Ferntree Gully CFA, the Ferntree Gully Rotary Club, Knox City Council, Upper Ferntree Gully Football Club, Upper Ferntree Gully CFA, Community Bank Ferntree Gully, Knox Historical Society, First Knoxfield Joeys, St Joseph’s College and the Ferntree Gully Girl Guides.
The dawn service was organised by the Rotary Club of Ferntree Gully and Ferntree Gully CFA.
