Remembering the fallen at Bonnie Doon

GATHERED in the pre–dawn light at Bonnie Doon last Tuesday (April 25) were approximately 200 local residents and visitors for the Dawn service commemorating ANZAC Day. The early morning fog encroached the surrounds of the War Memorial where the solemn ceremony was led by local RSL member Peter Mahoney. Guest speaker was Captain Steve Rabie (Ret) who gave a short address on the formation of ANZAC and its combat at Gallipoli. "Before dawn on April 25 1915, the first soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula. "The men were part of a British and French led invasion." Cpt Rabie said the allies' mission was to destroy Turkish guns that were preventing naval ships from reaching and bombarding the Turkish capital, Constantinople – if they succeeded, Turkey might have be forced out of the war and Germany would lose an important ally. Some 2000 Australians were killed or wounded on that landing. "It was a day of confusion and fear," Cpt Rabie said. At the time of evacuation in December 1915 about 8700 Australians and almost 2700 New Zealanders had been killed. There were 130,000 soldiers on both sides who lost their lives at Gallipoli. The bonds that grew between Australians and New Zealanders was united at that battle and from that conflict on the ANZACs were set – a bond that continued throughout Europe, into the second world war and beyond. Cpt Rabie said ANZAC Day has become an occasion to honor all who have worn Australia's uniform in service. "We recognise more than 100,000 Australian servicemen and women who have lost their lives in military operations carried out in our country's name," he said. He concluded by saying, "We honor the values that have been invested in the original ANZACs – loyalty, selflessness, courage – and the ways in which later generations have measured their own achievements against those of the soldiers who fought on Gallipoli." Wreaths were laid on behalf of the RSL, Mansfield Shire, Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish, Legacy, the Evans family and others. Following the short service which included a song sung by Wayne Anderson and the bugle played by Peter Coffey, all attending were invited to a gunfire breakfast at the community park at which more than 100 were served sausages and bacon, tea coffee and hot milos.