On the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month, Australia will fall silent as residents come together for one of the country’s most important national days of commemoration.
Hundreds of locals are expected to come together on November 11 to pay their respects to the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice on Remembrance Day.
The day marks the anniversary of the Armistice, which saw guns on the Western Front fall silent and the end of the First World War in 1918.
Close to home, the Seven Hills Toongabbie Wentworthville RSL sub-Branch will host its annual service at Seven Hills RSL.
“We commence our service at 11am, in the carpark here of the club because it’s under shelter and we do the traditional things: The Ode, the Last Post etc.,” Honorary Secretary Chris Gammage told Parra News.
“We lay wreathes and a couple of people make short speeches. It’s usually attended by about 500 [people].”
Gammage said he’s hoping to encourage both veterans and younger residents who haven’t served to attend the local event.
“It would serve an educational value as well if they attended, obviously the whole idea is the veterans commemorate the veterans, but we also want to educate young people and we want to talk about the whole thing,” he added.
“It’s an ongoing thing. Even the younger people who didn’t serve themselves may end up knowing somebody who has.”
For Gammage, Remembrance Day presents an important opportunity to not only acknowledge Australian history, but to learn from it.
“I think it’s important to not only recognise the past, but it’s important to recognise the future and, as a nation, if we start to ignore conflicts and the service of people then eventually we’re going to end up being invaded by somebody,” he said.
“All you’ve got to do is look at the wars in Europe at the moment and you can see why people have to be aware.”
Having served eight years in the Army Reserve and two years as a National Serviceman, Remembrance Day is close to Gammage’s heart.
“It’s an opportunity to reflect on my service, the high points the low points, and to acknowledge the service of others – many of whom have done much more than I have” he said.
“It’s also a chance to recognise and think about those who did not return. It’s the ultimate price.”
To find out more about Remembrance Day at Seven Hills RSL go to http://www.sevenhillsrsl.com.au/about-us/sub-branch.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.