It wasn’t quite Anzac Day in terms of numbers but there was plenty of heartfelt reflection at Remembrance Day ceremonies at Batemans Bay and Moruya on Sunday.
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About 50 people gathered at the Moruya Memorial Hall where Eden-Monaro MP and former soldier Mike Kelly gave the keynote address for the ceremony.
“The numbers weren’t as good as usual, probably because it was a Sunday, but we got lots of really good comments about the service,” Moruya RSL Sub Branch property officer and service organiser Mal Buckham said.
Dr Kelly spoke about the horror of the First World War, the end of which Remembrance Day commemorates, and how Australia lost 60,000 men despite having a population of fewer than five million at the time.
“It was a very, very good speech,” Mr Buckham said.
He talked of the current conflict in Afghanistan, and mentioned that in the past it didn’t matter whether a conflict was considered justified or not, that the soldiers didn’t have a choice but to fight.
Moruya Public School students laid a wreath at the ceremony.
Dr Kelly, master of ceremonies and Moruya RSL Sub Branch president Rob Griffith and Mr Buckham all mentioned Afghanistan when they spoke.
About 100 people turned out for the service at the Batemans Bay Honour Stone, where Retired Colonel Keith Brewster was the keynote speaker.
