Record crowds attend Anzac Day services
Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL commemorated Anzac Day on Saturday, 25 April before record crowd numbers with services in Trafalgar, Thorpdale and Narracan East, as well as supporting other services conducted in Willow Grove, Aberfeldy, Erica, Hill End, Walhalla and Yarragon.
The traditional Dawn Service was held at the Trafalgar Cenotaph with an estimated 350 to 400 people in attendance for the early morning, first light, service commencing at 6am.
This service was conducted by sub-branch president Jim Crowe with David Koschade again providing the traditional bagpipe tunes of ‘Abide with me’ and ‘Sleep, Dearie, Sleep’.
During this brief ceremony, Jim covered the significance and the traditions of the Dawn Service.
Phil Jamieson and Alan Smith were posted as the Flag Orderlies for both the Dawn Service and at the later Trafalgar service.
The audio support for this service and the later 11am service was provided by Grady Edwards.
The service was followed by the traditional Gun Fire Breakfast in the hall with Trafalgar Lions Club members including Pat Tatterson, Pauline Wheller and Graham Hill arriving at Zero Dark Hundred Hours to set up and prepare the breakfast so that all was ready to be served at the Dawn Services conclusion.
The Thorpdale Service was conducted at Pioneer Park Cenotaph by sub-branch member Sandra Pleash, with the Reverend Dr Dean Spalding reading the Anzac Requiem, and Jon Marsh reading the names commemorated on the war memorial. Darron Fraser and David Ferguson, were once again our reliable Thorpdale Flag Orderlies, taking their post at the flag poles, and Malcolm Dodson provided the technical audio support for the Last Post, Rouse and Australian and New Zealand National Anthems.
As this year commemorates the 75th anniversaries of the formation of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC), and the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC), Sandra spoke of these in her service.
As well as speaking about Sister Annie Smith (nee Westcott), who served in the Australian Army Nursing Service (the predecessor of the RAANC) in World War I and is commemorated on the Thorpdale Memorial Wall.
The Thorpdale service was well attended by local people and visitors, and was followed by a morning tea arranged by Tracey Chambers.
Concurrent activities included the Narracan East and Willow Grove services which both commenced at 9am.
Jim Crowe conducted the service at the Narracan War Memorial, assisted by Leonie Gracie.
Similar to the Thorpdale service, the residents of Narracan turned out to pay their respects at this commemoration.
Sub-branch committee member Grady Edwards travelled north to Willow Grove to assist Willow Grove Primary School teacher Sharon McCartney in conducting its service at the war memorial.
This service was patronised with well over 100 in attendance, including members of the local football team and with the local school children’s input in reading the Anzac Requiem.
Although the sub-branch had no members participate in the nearby Yarragon 10.30am service, both Jim Crowe and Bill Kilday had earlier assisted its guest speaker with background information.
The Trafalgar March, under direction of parade marshall Paul Altamore, commenced at 10.45am, with crowds lining Contingent Street, as the marchers formed up behind Marcus Barker’s Land Rover in which he acted as chauffeur for veteran Bob Moss.
The parade consisted of four divisions – the RSL and Veterans with family members leading, former sub-branch president, Ray James in front.
This division was followed by the Trafalgar Fire Brigade under the supervision of Mark Walshe.
Then 1st Trafalgar Scout Group, and finally students from Trafalgar High School, Trafalgar Primary School and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.
This year we also had representatives from Ambulance Victoria, and Victoria Police joining the march.
The Latrobe Community Concert Band had pre-positioned itself at the Scout Hall and provided the music for the march and subsequent service.
An estimated 400 to 500 people attended this service either as marchers or lining the streets.
Following the Parade’s ‘Fall Out’, all gathered around the cenotaph and along Contingent and Kitchener streets for the service, again conducted by Jim Crowe, with Reverend Dr Dean Spalding invited to speak and lead the prayer.
As in previous years, a large number of wreaths, many individually created by Leonie Gracie were laid at the cenotaph.
Traditionally, wreaths dedicated to the RSL, World War I, World War II, prisoners of war, Vietnam War, all other conflicts, and Legacy are each year placed at the cenotaph by RSL members, or local people with a connection to that conflict or organisation.
This year being the 75th Anniversary of the formation of RAANC, Maureen Erbs, who served in the RAANC, was invited to present a special wreath commemorating this anniversary and dedicated to all service nurses. This year, we also had the State Secretary of the Victorian RSL Women’s Council, Lynese Goldie OAM, lay a wreath at the cenotaph.
Cr Brendan Kingwill laid a wreath on behalf of Baw Baw Shire Council.
Wreaths were also presented by members of Ambulance Victoria, and on behalf of Trafalgar Police by Senior Sergeant David Harrison.
In addition, wreaths are also laid at the cenotaph by local community groups including Trafalgar Fire Brigade, 1st Trafalgar Scout Group, Trafalgar Football and Netball Club and Trafalgar Lions Club.
The three local schools, whose students participated in the march and service, each laid a separate wreath.
Individuals were also called forward to place any wreaths or tributes of remembrance, thus leaving the base of the cenotaph covered in a sea of wreaths, flowers, poppies and various individual tributes.
During the ceremony two plaques were dedicated on the Memorial Wall honouring local servicemen by their family members:
Steven George Atkins, who served with the 59th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and died as the result of wounds received on 25 September 1917 during the Battle of Bullecourt. Members of private Atkins’ family – Peter and Tracie Regan travelled from Bundaberg, Queensland for this service.
William John Powell, who enlisted in the Second AIF during World War II, and also with the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan following the War. Bill Powell later joined the Royal Australian Navy where he saw service in the Korean War, Malaya Emergency and the Far East Strategic Reserve. Members of the Powell family were also in attendance for the plaque unveiling.
Following this last service, the crowd dispersed, some to the hall for lunch, a few drinks and catch ups, and some to other gatherings.
The get together at the RSL hall then followed and was superbly catered for.
Amongst our members who organised the catering or voluntarily worked in the kitchen were Pauline Barker, Dellas Edwards, Wilma Franklin, Lynn Jamieson, Sonja Perrin, Pat Tatterson and Pauline Wheller.
Apologies to other volunteers not mentioned.
The bar was continually manned under Phil Jamieson’s directions.
Throughout the afternoon, a number of our committee and sub-branch members including Marcus Barker, Mark Walshe and Sally Neenan assisted Phil at the bar.
The veterans in attendance were grateful for the ‘long neck’ bottles of classic beers which had been donated by Derick Jones as a tribute for their service.
The rations provided by Trafalgar IGA and Thorpdale Bakery’s popular pies and sausage rolls ensured that none went hungry.
The sub-branch is also particularly thankful for additional food stuffs kindly donated by both Trafalgar IGA and the Thorpdale Bakery which enhanced both the Gun Fire Breakfast and later luncheon.
The 11am service was not the last of Jim Crowe’s duties for the day as he also represented Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL Sub branch at the Trafalgar versus Lang Lang seniors football game held that afternoon, where he awarded the medallions for Best on Court (netball) and Best on Ground (football).
The sub-branch is grateful to Trafalgar Football Netball Club for its donation of the day’s gate takings to the 2026 RSL Anzac Appeal, which funds critical services for veterans and their families.
Anzac Day 2026 was a respectful commemoration honouring Australia’s original ANZACs and all service men and women who have since followed and continue to serve our nation.
Its success was highlighted by the good community turnout at all locations.
The various services and parade were the culmination of several months’ work ranging from liaison with Baw Baw Shire Council, local authorities, schools and community groups as well as the necessary logistics and personnel support, much of it behind the scenes.
This included the Friday afternoon working bee at the RSL hall and Thorpdale cenotaph.
Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL sub-branch thanks all those involved, particularly Don Barrett and Bonnie Mackie. M
any members of Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL Sub branch and the local community contributed, and their efforts and work were instrumental in making this another successful Anzac Day.
To finish up with a quote from General Dwight D. Eisenhower – Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II: “Teamwork wins Wars”.
