A crowd of several hundred people gathered to pay their respects to the many service men and women who have represented Australia in past and contemporary wars and conflicts.

 Eden RSL sub-branch president Stephen Mahoney presided over the ceremony commencing the proceedings by calling for those assembled to remember and honor our past service men and women and “the sacrifice they made for an ideal, a way of life.”

“Let us hope that our sons and daughters won’t forget the example set by our forefathers.”

Eden Marine High (EMH) students and pupils from Eden Public school delivered addresses reflecting on the legacies of war. Some also considered the “Anzac Spirit” and its connection to our national values.

“Wars are to be avoided,” a representative from EMH said. “But we should stand-up for our values.”

The EMH representative ended by drawing the crowds attention toward the broader impacts of war.

“The effects of war don’t end simply because the conflict has,” they said. “So many families were affected in so many ways.”

 Eden Public School pupil, Darcy Swane sharing why Anzac day was so “special” to her. 

With eloquence and clarity, Darcy recounting  the story of her great-grandfather Frank Charles Swane who fought in Tobruk in 1941 aboard the “amazing ship” the HMAS Nizam.

Sergeant Michael Kimmorley from the 460 Squadron shared some of the lessons “he had gained” during his time with the squadron.

Sergeant Kimmorley imparted five life principles while underscoring the humility and ordinariness of the nation’s service men and women. 

“Our military is full of ordinary Australians,” he said. “The majority are born in country towns and in our cities.”

“I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be an ordinary Australian in the service of my country.”