Remembrance Day wreath laying ceremonies were held in Kingston and Taroona on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November to honour those who served Australia and lost their lives in war and peacekeeping activities.
The Taroona community, including veterans, ex-services families, local school representatives, local scouts, Australian Defence personnel and dignitaries gathered for the commemorative service, overlooking the Taroona War Memorial monument and Taroona Park.
Cub scouts Luna Mayhew and Ada Stephenson, from the Taroona Scouts Group, delivered a heart-felt speech to the local gathering in honour of the occasion.
A floral tribute was laid by Mrs Jill O’Reilly, in memory of her father, the late Dr Eric Canning, a past Taroona Ex-Services Club president and life member.
Mrs Libby McMahon laid a floral tribute in memory of her husband, the late Dr John McMahon, also a past Taroona Ex-Services Club president and life member.
Wreaths and floral tributes were also laid by representatives of Taroona High School, Taroona Primary School, Taroona Scout Group the Taroona Garden Club and Taroona Tennis Club.
Elected local, state and federal government representatives in attendance included Deputy Mayor of Kingborough, Cr Jo Westwood, Ms Justin Meeker representing Independent Member for Nelson, the Honourable Meg Webb MLC, State Member for Denison and Attorney General, the Honourable Elise Archer and Simon Behrakis representing Federal Member for Tasmania, the Honourable Eric Abetz.
The laying of wreaths and floral tributes was accompanied by the musical sound of bagpipes played by Police Piper James McAlpine, followed by a Remembrance Day address delivered by retired Air Vice-Marshal Peter Scully AO.
Chaplain David Lewis delivered prays for Australia, for peace and for our leaders to make wise decisions.
Trumpet player Niamh Watson played the Last Post, following which the gathering paused for one minute’s silence, to reflect on the legacy of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Last Post is the call that signifies a soldier has gone to his final rest.
Kingston Beach RSL Sub-Branch hosted a Remembrance Day service for the community on the forecourt of the Civic Centre in Kingston.
Remembrance Day services held around Tasmania on November 11 marked 102 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War, in which one in five of Tasmania’s 15,000 enlisted citizens died.
The Australian War Memorial noted between 1914 and 1918 a newly federated Australia sent 414,000 citizens to face the horrors of modern industrialised war.
“By 1918, almost 62,000 Australians lay dead among the mud and destruction of the trenches in Europe, the sands of Sinai, Palestine and Syria,” noted the Australian War Memorial.
Federal Minister for Defence, Senator the Honourable Linda Reynolds said more than 102,000 citizens had lost their lives serving Australia in various conflicts over more than a century.
“I encourage all Australians to share in one minute’s silence in memory of the more than 102,000 Australian men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Minister Reynolds said.
“As we honour their sacrifice, we also acknowledge and thank the more than 3000 servicemen and women who are currently deployed on Australian Defence Force operations overseas, as well as those serving at home, supporting the Federal Government’s response to COVID-19.”
Pictured above: Members of the Taroona Scouts Group were among those who attended the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Taroona War Memorial on November 11.
