Pingelly, a sustainable community, where natural beauty and economic diversity provide opportunities for all.

Anzac Day 2022

Published on Monday, 25 April 2022 at 6:00:00 AM

Anzac Day 2022

On Sunday 24 April 2022, Pingelly’s representation of the eternal flame was lit once again in Memorial Park. The eternal flame originated in France in 1923 and has now been adopted as a worldwide symbol of Remembrance and gratitude for those who gave their lives in times of wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations . Every year the Pingelly RSL sub-branch holds the vigil which is lit at the 18th hour and is guarded by local service personnel with rotating duties over twelve hours till dawn.

The dawn service begins on Anzac Day at the 6th hour. During battle, the half-light of dawn was one of the most favoured times for an attack. Soldiers in defensive positions were woken in the dark before dawn, so by the time first light crept across the battlefield they were awake, alert, and manning their weapons; this is still known as the ‘stand-to’. A dawn vigil, recalling the wartime front line practice of the dawn ‘stand-to’, became the basis of a form of commemoration in several places after the war.

The community gathered at the RSL hall for morning tea before falling in to march. This year the march lead straight to Memorial Park where the Anzac Day service took place. RSL President Damien Spencer guided the service, with Sandie Spencer and Andrew Dover both respectfully giving the reading of both poems and prayers. Every year over 16 wreaths are laid, with each dedicated to individual wars, conflicts , local service personnel and families.

They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget

Scroll down below to view the Anzac Day address from Shire President Bill Mulroney, as well as photographs of the 2022 Anzac Day service, dawn service and march.

Shire of Pingelly address presented by Shire President Bill Mulroney

“Anzac Day has been one of the most important dates on Australia's calendar since 1916. At first, it gave people a chance to honour the original Anzacs – the Australians and New Zealanders who fought on Gallipoli. Then it became a day for those who had served in the First World War. With Australians experiencing the Second World War, additional wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations that have followed, Anzac Day has become an occasion to honour all who have worn our country's uniform in service. Today, we reflect on that service. Today, along with many Australians we gather to remember those who have served to defend our country. We recognise more than a hundred thousand Australian service personnel who have lost their lives in military operations carried out in our country's name.

we acknowledge those lives lost and those who survived. Today we are grateful.

We respect the values that have been invested in the original Anzacs – loyalty, selflessness, courage, mateship – and the ways in which later generations have measured their own achievements against those of the soldiers who fought on Gallipoli. This is a time to think about those who have served in Australia's armed forces, those who continue to serve, and about those who have lost their lives.

Today I leave you with this. “On Anzac Day the ode concludes: “At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.” And we respond, “We will remember them”.
And yet if asked what happened on Anzac Day, few can recall. We sang the Anthem. The last post was played.

We stood in silence. Heard a speaker. The flag was raised. We observed the rituals.
The Commemoration was honoured.
But what do we take away? We recommit “We will remember them”. But who are “them”?

“Them” was someone’s child, a sibling, a parent, and a friend. And because of “them” we can live in such peace and prosperity today.”