Stirring times at Cootamundra dawn service | Photos, video

The strong crowd pleased organisers from the Returned Services League of Australia Cootamundra Sub-Branch with president Garry James commenting that crowds continue to grow everywhere and it is great to see the importance of the occasion remain in Cootamundra. 

Among the crowd were diggers bearing medals from conflicts during which the youngest attendees were not even born. 

Young or old, all stood together to mark the Anzac Spirit. 

In welcoming attendees to the Dawn Service, Mr James paid particular credence to the Western Front. 

“On the 18^th of November, 1916, a blizzard put an end to major operations on the Western Front and the epic Somme campaign wound down,” Mr James said. 

“Three Australian divisions had lost 23,000 men in less than seven weeks. Those Australians who endured the Somme could never forget the horrors, nor could the grieving relatives of the casualties. As Charles Bean wrote – the ridge was more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on Earth,” he continued.

Mr James explained to the rapt audience, the bloodletting on the Somme and at Verdun had weathered German morale, bringing ultimate victory closer. 

“The surrender of the German soldiers had increased. The German Chief of Staff informed his superiors at the end of 1916 that the German Army was absolutely exhausted, thus the Combined Allied Forces had victory in sight,” Mr James said. 

Pastor Brian Grewell joined Mr James and the RSL Sub-Branch’s Jacqui Vincent in leading the ceremony. 

Anzac Day commemorations will continue in Cootamundra this morning with the march via Parker and Bourke Streets from 10.30am and the United Anzac Commemoration Service in Albert Park commencing at 10.45am. 

All community members are invited to attend and pay their respects to those who made the supreme sacrifice. 

As Mr James eloquently said at the Dawn Service, these are the people who helped make Australia the country it is today. 

Lest we Forget