By CASEY NEILL
SACRIFICE, mateship and courage were the common themes at Anzac centenary commemorations held in Springvale and Noble Park yesterday (Sunday).
Wet weather forced both RSL sub-branches to at the last minute move their 19 April services indoors.
“We’re just reorganising as the Anzacs did many, many years ago,” MC Michael Vaughan said as guests filed into the Springvale Town Hall.
The service started with a tribute to legendary Australian soldier Jack Simpson and his donkey.
Jared Fleming played the part of Jack Simpson in an original World War I uniform on loan from Springvale and District Historical Society.
He led rescued donkey Molly through the hall as primary and secondary school children from Springvale and surrounds shared the legendary tale.
They explained that Simpson had many failings as a soldier due to his undisciplined nature, but became an Anzac legend for his dedication to his mates as a stretcher-bearer.
He was shot three weeks after arriving in Gallipoli, trying to help a wounded soldier.
Jared served in the Australian Army and is the great-grandson of William ‘Bill’ Fleming, who founded Springvale RSL alongside his brothers Victor and Thomas.
Many audience members shed tears as Bill’s son Doug joined Vic’s daughter Dawn Charters and Tom’s son Trevor Fleming to lay a wreath during the service.
Dawn’s husband, RSL past president and WWII veteran Geoff Charters, read the first lesson.
Mr Vaughan said that a Fleming family member had served in the RSL every year since its inception 95 years ago.
Guest speaker Lieutenant Dowd from HMAS Cerberus told the audience that the Anzac landing at Gallipoli was the ill-conceived opening to a campaign intended to secure allied shipping access to the Black Sea.
He said the soldiers committed themselves without hesitation, fought with great skill and audacity, and suffered a heavy defeat.
“Their true achievements were in their courage, determination, mateship and sacrifice,” he said.
Lieutenant Dowd said their sacrifice created a national pride.
Noble Park’s guest speaker, Jeff Jackson, said Anzac Day ceremonies were a permanent reminder that “our Anzacs thought this wonderful country of ours was worth dying for”.
“The term Anzac has transcended the physical meaning to become a spirit – an inspiration that embodies the qualities of courage, discipline, sacrifice, self-reliance and in Australian terms, that of mateship and a sense of a fair go,” he said.
“We gather not to glorify war.
“All we ask is the simple recognition of the sacrifice, commitment and unselfish devotion by those men and women who served so valiantly for their country and what they believed in, so much so that many knowingly went to their deaths.”
Dandenong RSL will hold a dawn service at 5.45am on Anzac Day, Saturday 25 April, at the Pillars of Freedom, corner Clow Street and Princes Highway, Dandenong.
A march from Clow Street and Stud Road and a second service at the pillars will follow at 10.30am.
