By Tanya Steele
In grief and gratitude, people across the outer east assembled to pay their respects on Anzac Day at the Ferntree Gully Quarry at the Dawn service.
A quarter moon shone brightly on the lands of the Wurundjeri as people moved through the darkness, guided by CFA and SES volunteers to assemble and pay their respects.
As the ceremony opened, Master of Ceremonies and former Knox City Mayor Karin Orpen OAM acknowledged and thanked those who all those died and made the ultimate sacrifice for Australia and for those who serve today.
“We give thanks for the freedoms we have to live in peace with our rights protected, and these are the things they believed in and died for, and we reflect on the conflict between our grief and our gratitude,” she said.
“Grief that so many lives have been lost on foreign soil in wars over the years – and yet immense gratitude because the tomorrows that they sacrificed allow us to live our todays in relative peace and harmony in our beautiful setting here this morning.”
110 years after Gallipoli, the service highlighted the stories of young people of Knox and the surrounding area.
“The 23rd battalion, many of whom were from this area, were led by a 30 year old commander by the name of George Hodges Knox, who our city is named after,” said Ms Orpen.
As the sun began to rise, Chris Markwick took the crowd back to Gallipoli, telling the story of a young Ferntree Gully soldier.
“What did young Sergeant Head from Upper Ferntree Gully who landed on that day, think as he scrambled up the hostile cliff, did he think of his hills at home, of magpies and Kookaburras singing in the dawn, and not of the raucous roar of battle – he died later that day,” he said.
Rohan Laing from the Ferntree Gully CFA also spoke to pay tribute to those fallen and said Australian men and women have shown, over many decades, their willingness to serve on shores far from home.
“The ANZAC legend has cemented the resilient, fearless, easy-going, but tough larrikin, that is the Australian soldier,” he said.
“We take a moment to acknowledge and honour those from Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Ms Orpen said following the battle of Lone Pine Ridge, a soldier by the name of Lance Corporal Benjamin Smith collected and sent a cone from the lone pine tree back to his mother in Australia, who successfully raised two seedlings from them.
“One of those precious seedlings was sent to the Australian War Memorial and from that seedling, many 1000s have been propagated,” she said.
One is also planted at the Ferntree Gully Quarry Reserve as a constant remembrance and tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Last Post was played by bugler Lyle Hoefer, with the quarry wall providing a reverb back to the crowd, the sound echoing the stillness as the crowd observed a minute’s silence.
St Joseph’s College Choir led the crowd through the Australian Anthem and wreaths laid by many. Once the morning service finished, crowds quietly dispersed in the the warm autumn morning to reflect over breakfasts and coffee with local traders.
“Thank you so much for your attendance. This is a community event organized by the community, for the community, and thank you for coming this morning to honor our service, men and women,” said Ms Orpen.
