Castlemaine RSL welcomed community members to its Remembrance Day service on Wednesday.
The day marked 108 years since the guns fell silent ending World War I on November 11, 1918.
Australia lost more than 60,000 troops in that conflict, and more than 103,000 across its years of military and peacekeeping service.
The crowd was welcomed by RSL Castlemaine vice president and MC Owen Scott who shared a brief history of Australian wartime and peacekeeping service, before celebrated local musician Maggie Jackson shared a moving rendition of her tribute to our Anzacs – ‘Remember’.
Mayor Cr Toby Heydon then spoke about the sacrifices made by Australian men and women who have served, their families, communities, and acknowledged those who are currently servicing on land, in the air and on the sea to continue to protect all Australians.
A number of community groups then took the opportunity to lay wreaths and floral tributes including Castlemaine RSL, Legacy Castlemaine, the Vietnam Veterans, Castlemaine CFA, Castlemaine SES and The Salvation Army Castlemaine.
Castlemaine RSL president Greg Hughes recited The Ode before Thompson’s Foundry Band member Jeremy Meaden played the Last Post, pausing as the crowd observed a minute’s silence, before he capped off the service with Reveille.
Guests were then invited to join RSL members for morning tea and a chance to tour the organisation’s extensive memorabilia collection.