Knox Residents Commemorate Remembrance Day

14-November-2011

At 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month, people across Knox stopped for two minute’s silence to remember those brave Australians who have fought and died for our nation.

Federal Member for Aston, Mr Alan Tudge MP, attended a service at the Bayswater RSL. The service was well attended by local veterans, family members, residents and Bayswater Primary School children. Mr Tudge spoke at the service alongside RSL President, Mr Don Hamilton, and Club Secretary, Noel McLean in remembering all Australians lost in war and to give thanks for their service to our nation.

Mr Tudge said, “We, and all peoples of the Commonwealth of Nations, mark this day and time, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, as Remembrance Day, for it is the exact day and time the Allies and the German Empire signed armistice for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War One. “We are here to commemorate, to remember those brave men who have fought and died for Australia, in all wars, from the Boer War right through to the present day in Afghanistan. Over this time nearly 103,000 Australians have given their life in battle.
 
“Our national anthem rejoices that we are a nation “young and free”. That we are young is an accident of history – that we are free is no accident – it is due to the sacrifices of these brave men,” Mr Tudge said.

“We observe a minutes silence, a tradition that began in a time when most Australians would apply that time to remembering a face, a name, a friend, a brother, a husband, a son, someone who represents personal loss. Thankfully today, most Australians have no direct experience of war or its grief, though many do. Ours is a promise to remember all Australians lost in war and to thank them for their service to our nation."
 
The service was followed by a morning tea in the club rooms with members of Bayswater RSL.