Councillor Chris Manchester lays a wreath on Remembrance Day at the Newson Park ceremony on behalf of Council on Monday. The photograph is taken with a light horseman in the foreground and the Cenotaph in focus with Councillor Manchester about to lay a wreath. The Harden Service was well attended at 11am before members of the community attended the Light Horse Memorial Service in Murrumburrah at Midday.
Remembrance Day was held as usual in the twin towns on the 11th month on the 11th day at the 11th hour, with services in Newson Park at 11am and in Murrumburrah at midday. Flags were at full mast at 8:00am before being lowered to half mast at 10:30am. They were raised during the service. The Newson Park service saw a large crowd gather with Murrumburrah High School attending with Captains Max Spackman and Abbey Wade laying a wreath on behalf of the school. Speakers included Councillor Chris Manchester who recounted a story about 3 nurses who looked after soldiers in WWl.
The RSL’s Graham Chalker spoke about War while Max recited the poem futility by Wilfred Owns. “Move him into the sun— Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields half-sown. Always it woke him, even in France, Until this morning and this snow. If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know. Think how it wakes the seeds— Woke once the clays of a cold star. Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides Full-nerved, still warm, too hard to stir? Was it for this the clay grew tall? —O what made fatuous sunbeams toil To break earth’s sleep at all?”
The Lighthouse were in attendance sitting quietly on their steeds at both Harden and Murrumburrah. The Murrumburrah service commenced with David Young orchestrating proceedings and the small crowd heard from Councillor O’Connor and Rev Rajasekaram who read passages from the bible.
Trinity was represented by Sara Collins and Sophie Barnes. Both young ladies did their school proud by sharing a poem.
“Why are they selling poppies, Mummy? Selling poppies in town today. The poppies, child, are flowers of love. For the men who marched away. But why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy? Why not a beautiful rose? Because my child, men fought and died In the fields where the poppies grow. But why are the poppies so red, Mummy? Why are the poppies so red? Red is the colour of blood, my child. The blood that our soldiers shed. The heart of the poppy is black, Mummy. Why does it have to be black? Black, my child, is the symbol of grief. For the men who never came back. But why, Mummy are you crying so? Your tears are giving you pain. My tears are my fears for you my child. For the world is forgetting again.”
Murrumburrah Public hosted their own special Remembrance Day assembly. They were fortunate enough to have a live rendition of ‘The Last Post’ and ’Rouse’ performed by Steve Belling. Every class representative laid a wreath and selected students recited poems.
