School students joined members of the community and local veterans in the traditional march along Pambula’s Quondola Street to the war memorial for the Anzac Day service.
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A good crowd watched and applauded as the veterans marched past.
Leading the march were local students and flag bearers, Toby Beasley and Heidi Purdom of Pambula Public School and Riley Gordon of Lumen Christi Catholic College.
Emily Claxton of Pambula and now an Officer Cadet based in Canberra gave an address in which she spoke of the countless sacrifices made by Australians.
OCDT Claxton went on to talk about her own family saying her great grandfather had been an infantryman in WWI, her grandfather had fought in New Guinea in WWII and her grandmother had worked in the De Havilland aircraft factory in Bankstown.
“More recently my uncle was awarded the Order of Australia medal for service in the Air Force,” OCDT Claxton said.
“I am who I am because of the Anzacs. I experienced growing up in this wonderful community knowing I can always come home for support. For this I thank the Anzacs.”
OCDT Claxton said she hoped to protect family and community, present and future.
There were speeches from Pambula Public School captains Jacob Jones and Imogen Bichard.
Jacob spoke about the feeling of privilege in being able to live life in Australia.
“Anzac Day gives us the chance to appreciate and remember the sacrifices made,” Jacob said.
Imogen talked about the horrors of war and said we needed to remember how awful it was.
“We need these memories, without them we will not remember the soldiers who fought through them,” Imogen said.
Georgia Brian of Lumen Christi said that we still had “a long way to go”.
“2018 not only marks the centenary of the end of the WWI it marks the beginning of our future,” Georgia said pledging to continue to honour all those who had fought and made the ultimate sacrifice.
Georgia also went on to make special mention of those men and women in the forces who may have had more personal battles to fight.
“I want to acknowledge those who of gender, racial, or sexual minority who were or are fighting for our country,” she said adding that she felt privileged to be growing up at a time when she could now hear their stories.
Lucy-Sue Beukers of Eden Marine High School pointed out how lucky Australia had been, and that aside from the attacks on Darwin, had never known war on home soil.
She spoke about her visit to France and realising the cost to those who didn’t fight, the civilians.
“There backyards and homes were reduced to rubble and their home towns became a key point in a battle ground,” Lucy-Sue said.
She also spoke about Australia’s role at Villers-Bretonneux where two Australian brigades took part in an attack against German forces.
A German officer later wrote that under fire the Australians were magnificent, Lucy-Sue said.
“There is nothing that makes war a happy celebration Remember them, remember their sacrifice and love. I will strive to live my life to the fullest in honour of their sacrifice,” she said.
There were many wreaths laid by the community and this was followed by The Ode, Last Post played by Merimbula sub-branch member Nicholas Hassanoff.
Heads were bowed as the crowd and veterans honoured the fallen before the national anthem was sung.
Music was provided by the Sapphire Coast Concert Band who accompanied the Pambula Public School choir.
The service finished with the choir singing Amazing Grace.
