“I hope that by honouring these people, we can continue to pass down the Anzac legacy to the youth of our town for the continuation of its fundamental values.”
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Those were the words of Jackson Burton, addressing crowds that gathered on Anzac Day to honour our service men and women, past and present.
A century on from the end of hostilities in World War I, Forbes residents and visitors turned out in huge numbers to both march and line the streets on April 25.
Jackson, the captain of Red Bend Catholic College, gave the commemorative address and paid tribute to his great, great grandfather William Colless who was wounded in the first world war.
“It taught me take pride in being Australian, and be thankful that our country contained men and women like him who were willing to put themselves forward and risk their lives for the wellbeing of everyone else,” he said.
“This enabled such a profound feeling of gratitude in me for what Australian service men and women did, making the ultimate sacrifice, and what they continue to do today.
“Being able to pay respect to Australian troops on Anzac Day has been, and will continue to be a vital part of what defines me as an Australian.
“I hope that by honouring these people, we can continue to pass down the Anzac legacy to the youth of our town for the continuation of its fundamental values.”
RSL Forbes Sub Branch president Michael Walker acknowledged a number of significant anniversaries were marked this year: 2018 marks 100 years on from the end of World War I; 50 years since Australian service in Vietnam; and 25 years since peace-keeping service in Somalia.
