During this year’s centenary of the Armistice we reflect on what it must have been like one hundred years ago when this young country was embroiled in a conflict on a scale never before experienced.
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Guests at the Armistice Fundraising Luncheon held at the Nambucca Heads RSL Club on Saturday (September 1) were provided with a thought-provoking insight by local writer and broadcaster Elizabeth Newman.
The function was held as a fundraiser aimed at supporting the Nambucca Valley’s central Armistice commemoration events to be held at Macksville on November 11, 2018.
Guest speaker Elizabeth, who’s forebears were pioneers in the Nambucca Valley, spoke of the of the young men and women, who enlisted in the Great War being quite ordinary however, individually and collectively they became quite extraordinary.
She posed the question to those gathered, should we remember and should we commentate the Armistice?
Her address then espoused her belief in why we must remember and she provided some sobering detail that was as fascinating as it was moving.
Perhaps the most haunting fact from Elizabeth’s address was that from a population across the Nambucca shire of 6,122 over the four year period from May 1914 to November 1918, in excess of 130 men fell.
That’s more than 30 men a year. Elizabeth went on to point out how inconceivable it would be to accept these figures if it was happening today.
Elizabeth touched on the plight of our veterans of today and that there were some who were living on the streets. She urged guests at the luncheon to consider this next time you cast a vote and to ask yourself if you would trust those that you are considering voting for with the lives of our young men and women serving overseas and how they would treat our veterans.
During her address Elizabeth thanked Warrant Officer Trevor Lynch, who was in attendance, for the detailed historic work he published in the Nambucca ANZACs. It was from Trevor Lynch’s book that Elizabeth was able to gain precious detail about her Great Uncle, Private William H.S. Newman, who was killed in action at Bullecourt, France on May 14, 1917. He was 24 years old.
Guests at the luncheon also witnessed the Fallen Comrades Table Ceremony. The ceremony is intended to symbolise that our comrades who have fallen in war, or have fallen since, are here with us in spirit.
Mr Brian Duncan OAM led the ceremony where ex-serving representatives from the navy, army and airforce placed a number of symbolic items on a table. Mr Duncan explained the significance of each item as it was placed culminating in inverting wine glasses to symbolise the toast that they are not here to share. The gathering stood and presented a toast to departed comrades and the table with empty chairs remained in place during the function as a reminder of their sacrifice.
All guests at the Armistice luncheon enjoyed a dignified and reflective occasion, with the staff of the Nambucca Heads RSL Club serving food of an exceptional standard.
Next Armistice fundraising event
Bowraville Ex-Service Club, Saturday, September 29:
If you would like to participate in the next Armistice fundraising event, then you should attend the Champagne breakfast being held at the the Bowraville Ex-Service Club on September 29, commencing at 9am. The cost per head is $25.
To assist with catering, tickets should be booked and paid for by September 14 at the club, or by contacting: Todd Vercoe (Bowraville) 0438 225 390; John Kent (Nambucca Heads) 0412 258 701; Helen Reibel (Macksville) 0412 664 271; Wayne Mason (Stuarts Point) 0438 690 309.
About the author: Mick Birtles is a recently retired army officer now living in Nambucca Heads. During his 36-year career, Birtles served in Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership. Here he shares his interest in the issues effecting veterans on the Mid North Coast.
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