Remembrance Day Thoughts...

The community begins to gather for the ceremony at the memorial.

​Jan Curtis, our MAHG Secretary, put these thoughts on paper... 

MAHG President Garry Hutton officiating at the service.

         
​           As we stood remembering at
           the commemorative ceremony
           held at Moonambel's  Memorial
           last Sunday, it seemed to me
           to really capture the spirit
           we all hold deep within our  hearts. 
 
           I am one of many
           who were thinking deeply of
           a father, grandfather, great uncle,
           great aunty, brothers and sisters
           who served way back. 

---

     I  remember, maybe I was 7 or 8,
     sitting on the back door step
     with a tin trunk filled with photos,
     a uniform, tins of cigarettes,
     and drawings. 
     My Dad was sitting with me,
     a little girl, who held, smelt and         tried to understand
     this tin trunk. 

---

     
     I am glad to say I still have the trunk
     and most of my father's  things.
     I wear his medals and those of
     his father with enormous pride.

     Those moments echo through to today.
     All he carried home was in this trunk
     and kept in a shed in Brunswick. 
     It is here now with me in Warrenmang. 

---

​I feel that all of of us at the Remembrance Day services
connect with those
who served and
are still employed
in many arenas of war
to this day.

We experience
the  ramifications
which, to me,
are like sticky weeds
which cling to our hearts.

---

    So,
     back to our wonderful service
    in Moonambel
    prepared by
    Garry and Kaye Hutton.

    It was so heartfelt and moving. 

We had maybe 50 people attend.
When young children appeared, they seemed
to appreciate and respect the service.

This is marvellous.

---

Jan placing the wreath.

I was honoured to place 
the official wreath
and my thoughts
nearly overwhelmed me.
I was ok until
the Australian Anthem was played.

​Those wonderful words.
The Australian flag unfurled
and was floating above us
accompanied  by the songs
​of our native birds
in our Anzac Avenue of Honour......

---

Lest We  Forget.
                                                                            Jan Curtis ​​​

All photos: Ray Curtis & Kaye Hutton