Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Anzac Day

Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (09:52): To commemorate Anzac Day this year, so many locals supported thoughtful and moving services across our community. I thank Montmorency Eltham RSL president Ash Graham for his heartfelt speech at the Eltham dawn service. He reminded us that to commemorate Gallipoli is not to celebrate war; it is to remember the cost. It is to recognise the enduring human impact of decisions made from the beaches of Anzac Cove, and it is to remind ourselves, 110 years later, of the responsibility we bear to seek peace, to honour all who served and to learn from history.

Thank you to Makayla Henry from Catholic Ladies’ College for reciting the oath on behalf of the Australian people, the Eltham High School choir for their beautiful Amazing Grace, Eltham East Primary School for participating in the Eltham cenotaph roll call and the Eltham College Suara choir for their moving Honour the Dead. Thank you also to Nathan Bradshaw, Joey Buchan and Maegan Blair from Eltham College for their moving Anzac requiem; St Margaret’s Reverend Yvette Daniel for reading the Lord’s Prayer; and piper David Cretney. Thank you also to the Montmorency Eltham RSL family service, Jemima Coyne and Josh Schilling from Montmorency Primary for their acknowledgement of country, Lydia Natoli and Amelie Sharp from Montmorency Primary for their acknowledgement of service, Molly Brennin from Eltham College for reciting Why We Remember, the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band, Father Michael Sierakowski for the Lord’s Prayer, Oliver Plunkett-Zbaracki and Charli Ribaric from Eltham High for the Anzac requiem, and for Travelling Soldier thank you to the Eltham College choir’s Nate Clarke, Josie Gelperowicz, Tanay Joshi, Ethan Lee, Freya Leung-Harris, Hayley O’Donnell, Oscar Wijnen and Archer Wilson.