Thousands of people attended Anzac Day commemorations in Forbes yesterday, 101 years after the arrival of Australian troops on the beach at Gallipoli.
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The day began with hundreds gathering in the dark at the cenotaph for the traditional dawn service.
Local Salvation Army Captain Meaghan Gallagher gave the dawn service address in Forbes and paid tribute to the courage and comradeship shown by Australian diggers both past and present.
“War is a tale of lives cut short, hopes dashed and terrible suffering,” Capt Gallagher said.
Australia was a young nation and its army volunteers when they entered the Gallipoli campaign.
They endured eight months of fighting and lost 8709 men.
“Those who served created a legend, not of military victories but of courage and determination,” Capt Gallagher said.
“Anzac is a heritage for every Australian - it has continued through many campaigns in many lands.
“We are grateful to God for the freedom and liberty we enjoy because of their faithful service.”
Bugler Aaron Parry sounded the Last Post and the Reveille.
Later in the morning, people lined Lachlan Street to watch the annual parade in which hundreds of school children, preschoolers, families, veterans and local service personnel marched.
Following the parade, a crowd in the thousands gathered at the cenotaph for the service.
Local groups and organisations laid wreaths, Forbes High School principal Charles Dwyer delivered the Prayer of Thanksgiving, Juliet Slack-Smith delivered the Prayer for the Queen on behalf of St Laurence’s School and Forbes mayor Phyllis Miller gave the Prayer for the Nation.
Forbes RSL sub-branch president Michael Walker said yesterday was to commemorate that immortal day when the young men of Australia, by their deeds and sacrifice, demonstrated to the world at Gallipoli that Australia was truly a nation.
“On this day we remember the sacrifice of such men for an ideal, for a way of life,” he said.
“Let us take strength in the knowledge and hope that our sons and daughters will never forget the example set by their forefathers. In our everyday life let us endeavour to carry on those traditions established in past wars and conflicts at such tragic cost.
“We think of every man, woman and child who, in those crucial years, died so that the lights of freedom and humanity might continue to shine.
“So let us mourn with pride, but let us also remember with equal pride, those who served and still live.”
Forbes High School student Isobelle Herbert gave the commemorative address and said the spirit of the Anzacs is still alive today, in us and those fighting overseas.
“They gave us our tomorrow by giving their today,” she said.
“We are not glorifying war by holding these commemoration services around the country on this day, we are celebrating the human spirit, the spirit of the Anzacs. The idea of courage, endurance, initiative, discipline, determination and mateship, this is the spirit of the Anzacs.”
Bryan Stapley of the Canberra Vietnam Veteran’s Motorcycle Club delivered the Commemoration of the Fallen and bugler Aaron Parry played the Last Post.
Forbes Services Memorial Club then held a lunch, followed by the traditional two-up games.
The day concluded with the flag lowering ceremony at 5pm.
