Hundreds attending the Dawn Service at Oatley this morning were urged to remember the example of the original Anzacs.
The combined Anzac Dawn Service of the Oatley, Penshurst and Mortdale RSL Sub-branches held at Oatley Memorial Gardens Cenotaph marked the centenary year of the end of World War I.
Oatley RSL Sub-branch president, Bill Wright said the deeds and sacrifice of the young men of Australia at Gallipoli demonstrated to the world that we were truly a nation.
“Since those mournful days of World War I, the sons and daughters of Anzac came forward without question, accepted gladly and discharged fully their responsibilities during World War II, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan and in Peace Keeping and Peace Making operations or other conflicts,” he said.
“Let us take strength in the knowledge and hope that our sons and daughters will never forget the example set by their forefathers.”
The Reverend Ted Potter of St Paul’s Anglican Church Oatley gave the Anzac prayer and address, speaking of the tradition behind cenotaphs and remembering the fallen.
In ancient times people erected columns to celebrate victory and triumphal arches which depicted scenes of war, he said.
“After World War I in Australia there was a surge to erect columns and statues and walls, the difference being these would have names, hundreds and thousands of names,” Mr Potter said.
“For every German, Japanese or Turk killed there was a wife, a mother, children, families that were affected by war.
“Forget the war, don’t forget the warriors.”
The Australian Air League Riverwood Squadron proved the Catafalque Party and Memorial Guard during the service.
Vocalist Bronte Horder sang The Recessional Hymn and the National Anthem.
After members of the official party lay wreaths on the Cenotaph, members of the public were invited to leave their own wreaths or floral tributes.
Among them was one floral tribute which read, “Dad. Lest We Forget”.
