Remembrance Day commemorations returned across Ballarat on Thursday, with restrictions allowing full crowds at services throughout the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
About 250 people attended Ballarat's service at the Sturt Street cenotaph where the guest speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Shaun Richards from the Ballarat-based 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment.
Ballarat RSL president Alan Douglass said it was a very successful day after two years without a proper Remembrance Day service and many attendees enjoyed coming back to the Midlands-Ballarat RSL Sports and Services Club for refreshments and fellowship.
"The last couple of years, had COVID regulations, now that they've eased, everything went over absolutely perfectly," he said.
"Attendees had to check-in with a QR code and present their vaccination documentation. We had marshals in place and everything absolutely went over well.
"That was really good because the MC said anyone was invited back to the Midlands-Ballarat RSL Sports and Services Club and we had quite a few attendees turn up and it was good, we all had chats."
Sebastopol's service was also well attended with about 100 people showing their respects at 11am, including the branch's World War II veterans and representatives of local schools.
One World War II veteran recited World War I poem In Flanders Fields as part of the commemorations while a young bugler from Ballarat Grammar named JD also performed.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Sebastopol RSL president Mark Broemmer said it was important for the services to return.
"It was good, it's about having people there on the spot and then coming back to the RSL for a little bit of fellowship and a cup of coffee or tea afterwards and having a chat and that sort of thing. That's how we keep the memory of the Anzacs and all our nation's war dead as such over the period," he said.
Three services were held in the Buninyong area, with the main service at RSL Park attended by about 60 people along with additional services at Buninyong Cemetery and the Cambrian Hill Avenue of Honour.
Eighteen wreaths were laid while five primary schools and two secondary schools were represented and attendees came from as far away as Melbourne and Tatura.
Buninyong RSL president Ron Fleming said while Remembrance Day generally is not as well attended as Anzac Day, there was still a strong showing.
"We had a cup of tea and a COVID-safe single portion biscuit at the end. That's always good, people can stand and talk and fill those extra couple minutes and get a feel because there are people that you only see on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day," he said.
"Those two events, in a community like Buninyong, are probably the only time that communities are actually able to get together and be known to be there, particularly when they lay a wreath and their name is called out.
"From that point of view, I think it is important that those ceremonies continue to give the general public an opportunity to come together and pay that respect and remembrance, but also to keep some sort of cohesion between the various organisations within the community."
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.