A teacher at Myall Creek provisional school, a post office worker and a railway worker who enlisted just after his third child was born; Peter McCarthy revisited the stories and sacrifices of men memorialised on the Delungra Honour Roll on Wednesday.
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“’Dick’ Wenban, Frank Walsh and Fred Simpson had their lives taken from families and friends in the thickest fight by Australians that determined the Armistice on 11th November 1918,” Mr McCarthy said.
“There can be little doubt they had ‘grasped the standard of their father’s in the thickest fight.’”
Those sacrifices and many more were honoured at Delungra’s Anzac Day services. Nearly 50 people attended the 6.30am dawn service, led by Inverell Uniting Church Reverend Jean Bell and the Inverell Air Corp training cadets.
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Leading cadet Brooke McWhirter and leading cadet Jessika Coakes attended the flags. A breakfast was held at the Delungra Memorial Bowling Club following the service.
The 10am commemorative service, also led by Rev Bell, was doubled; with over 100 people gathering at Anzac Park to honour the troops.
The short march from the front of the Memorial Bowling Club was led by the Inverell flight cadets and Mr Ian McWhirter, leading ‘Ace’, equipped with WW1 Light Horse accouterments to represent a fallen trooper.
They were followed by ex servicemen and descendants, proudly wearing family members’ medals, Delungra Bushfire Brigade members, Delungra Public School pupils and Delungra Girl Guides.
The cataflaque was mounted by the cadets. Billy Taylor and Myles Williams from Delungra Public School read the poetry and Mr McCarthy delivered the commemorative address.
Mr Peter Atkinson read the ode and bugle calls were managed by Clive Hasselman.
The laying of wreaths followed Reveille with Councillor Jacki Watts laying a wreath on behalf of the Inverell Shire, followed by ex service men, relatives of those who served and local organizations.
After prayers were offered, the commemorative service closed when the cadets dismounted the catafalque.
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