By Mikayla van Loon
Paying special tribute to Mooroolbark’s own and to the significance of 2025 as a major anniversary of wars gone by, Anzac Day was a sombre display of gratitude and solace in Hookey Park.
The midday service saw crowds gather in the central location, surrounding the war memorial, as Mooroolbark Umbrella Group president Randall Bourchier led the ceremony.
Marking the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Mr Bourchier drew attention to the fact that the first world war was meant to be the only.
“It’s interesting that nearly 30 years before the ending of World War Two, World War One concluded, and it was proclaimed this was the war to end all wars,” he said.
“Sadly, our history has been very chequered since. We have a yearning, do we not, for peace.”
Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence had the honour of recounting some of the histories but also the local stories of soldiers whose names have been placed on the memorial in remembrance.
Of the 16,000 men who landed at Gallipoli, 2000 were killed or injured by the next morning, one of those men being Private John Metcalfe who was only 19.
“John has no known grave, but his name will be forever remembered on the memorial plaques here in Mooroolbark,” Ms Vallence said.
“Gallipoli was a tragedy that changed our nation’s collective consciousness forever. And from this tragedy grew what has become known now as the Anzac legend. A legend characterised by a commitment to duty, to sacrifice, courage, mateship and selflessness.”
Ms Vallence spoke of the over 2000 nurses who also put their hand up to serve in World War I.
She spoke of the sacrifice of the Second World War, both abroad and closer to home where lives like Frederick Smythe were taken.
“Frederick joined the Royal Australian Navy and served on the HMAS Yarra as a petty officer. With increased Japanese attacks on the Pacific in early 1942 the HMAS Yarra was ordered to escort a flotilla of allied ships from Indonesia back to Australia,” she said.
“En route, unfortunately, they came under heavy attack from Japanese destroyers, and HMAS Yarra was sunk just south of Central Java. Tragically, of the 151 crew members, only 13 survived.”
Not forgetting other major milestones, Ms Vallence focused on the 75th anniversaries of the Malayan emergency and the Korean War.
“Around 7000 Australian personnel served in Malaya during that conflict. And to this day, it remains Australia’s longest continuous military commitment of the 20th century, spanning from 1950 through to 1963 so 13 years of war,” she said.
“Australia was one of 21 countries who fought to defend South Korea over three years, more than 17,000 personnel from Australia’s three armed services served in the Korean War, as well as 153 nurses.”
Reflecting too on the centenary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, Ms Vallence drew on Mount Evelyn RSL member Major Ken McKenzie’s, OAM, service in the Corps.
“In 1925 the Corps was created to bring together a group of technical specialists who were responsible for the Australian Defence Forces communication systems because, of course, it’s not all guns on the battle front,” she said.
“Major Mackenzie followed in his parents footsteps. Both his mother and father also served in the Corps during World War Two.
“(He) helped provide our defence forces with vital information in Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and he noted that signallers are the glue that holds the army together. Nothing works without communication.”
To finish, there was a deep sense of gratitude and thanks passed on to all who have served and continue to serve this country.
“As we come together as a community today to reflect on the sacrifices of the past, let us remember that the Anzac spirit lives on in the work of those service men and women currently involved in operations overseas today,” Ms Vallence said.
“We also pay tribute to men and women who served in past conflicts in Borneo, Cambodia, Vietnam, Iraq, East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Afghanistan.
“All of these service men and women have shown strength and valour in their service for their country for which we are forever grateful.”
