Rhett Burnie, Alexandra Falls and Catherine Ferraro
MITCHELL Shire residents continued to keep the ANZAC spirit alive and well, with hundreds packing services across the region on Monday.
Around 300 people crammed into Kilmore’s Hudson Park for a traditional dawn service at the recently restored Kilmore cenotaph.
Kilmore RSL Sub Branch President Robert Taylor led the service, with representatives from the community laying wreaths while hymns were played.
For the first time in the history of Kilmore’s ANZAC day commemorations, the New Zealand national anthem was also played.
Mr Taylor said the inclusion of the Kiwi anthem embodied the true ANZAC spirit shared between Australia and New Zealand.
A second Kilmore service was held at the cenotaph at 10.30am, with hundreds of onlookers lining the streets to watch returned service men and women march alongside their families, soldiers, school children and scouts.
Kilmore man and former World War II prisoner of war Jack Sheehan carried the Australian flag during the march.
In Broadford, dozens watched with pride as veterans, army cadets and local scouts marched down the main street.
The procession collected more supporters as they marched before coming together at Memorial Park.
Around the cenotaph, over 100 residents, young and old, then gathered to listen and pay their respects to the Anzacs, while the Mitchell Shire Concert Band played hymns.
Guest speaker Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Devine said it was important to honour the bravery and mateship of our soldiers who gave so much of themselves for the country’s freedom.
He also encouraged onlookers to try and appreciate what it was like for the Anzacs to go away to war.
Wreaths were then laid by representatives from the Broadford RSL sub branch, the Mitchell Shire Council and Broadford primary and secondary schools.
In Wallan, around 200 people, including Mitchell Shire councillors Sue Marstaellar, Trevor Tobias and Ross Lee, paid tribute to the fallen.
The Strath Creek ceremony, which attracted about 100 people, focused on Nurse Janet Anne Hart, whose name is the last entry on the honour board in the town’s hall but whose story had never been told.
More than 102,000 Australians have lost their lives in war to date.






