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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-04-30 Daily Xml
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ANZAC Day Commemoration Services

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:26): I am glad to follow on after the contribution of the member for Waite in making some observations about the recent observance of ANZAC Day in the Hills through Heysen. The member for Waite has just provided an able summary and picture of the gathering that we attended at the Upper Sturt Soldiers Memorial Hall on ANZAC eve. As the member for Waite has just outlined, that was led by John Halsey, who is well known to all of us in the Hills. It is a tradition that I hope will be now continuing, having occurred over recent years. I do also join in recognising Captain 'Moose' Dunlop OAM's contribution to what is an informal, very human gathering on the eve of ANZAC Day.

Another occasion that is now really of long standing in the Hills and reflects one of those RSL sub-brigades that has enjoyed increasing numbers in recent times—and that is contrary to many—is the occasion for commemoration that is held at Macclesfield, out the front of the RSL sub-brigade, really flowing out onto and occupying the main street, such as the streets closed off for the course of the service. The community from far and wide gathers there. It has become tradition to be held on the Sunday evening prior ANZAC Day, and so this year both of those occasions occurred prior to ANZAC Day in the Hills.

I really recommend to anyone to come along to Macclesfield in future years to join with the community there. It is always a thoughtful and original commemoration at which reflections are made that are relevant to young people today, as well as being important to hear the individual stories of service and sacrifice from those locals, particularly at Macclesfield.

I pay particular tribute in this regard to one who was unusually absent at the Macclesfield service this year, and that is Dennis Oldenhove, the President of the Macclesfield RSL. Dennis is the epitome of community service. He has combined service to the community with what is really now reflected in a contribution to his own wellbeing. He has shown that, through leadership of an RSL, one can have such a positive contribution to then sporting clubs and indeed to the fabric of the community far and wide—so a special tribute to Dennis Oldenhove of Macclesfield.

On ANZAC Day itself, I was fortunate to attend at three services of commemoration, the first of which was before dawn and into the dawn at Stirling where I think we saw as many as we have ever seen. It was a service as and more meaningful than ever, concluding with just the beginning of some rain. I think some people in attendance felt as though that was a reminder to them all that we are here and we are standing outdoors together remembering in this way those events on the beach at dawn back in 1915. That was followed by a service and then breakfast at the Cherry Gardens community memorial garden, just a wonderful place, and one of those occasions where the community gather in a hall for breakfast after a service. You would not want to be anywhere else; it was just wonderful.

Then, to really highlight I suppose the beauty of the day, was the mid-morning commemoration service at Clarendon. I was joined there by the member for Hurtle Vale, as has been the practice over many recent years. If I were to recommend an occasion to people statewide, certainly keep in mind that possibility, to venture to Clarendon and to be there for mid-morning commemoration by that wonderful community.

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