Victoria pauses to remember sacrifice of servicemen and woman on Remembrance Day

Every year, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we pause to remember those men and women who have served. See the gallery.

Kevin Hillier OAM, President of Frankston RSL and grandchildren Wesley Norman, 12, and April Norman, 10, pictured for Remembrance Day. Picture: Mark Stewart

Six buglers gave busy CBD shoppers cause to pause for a moment at 11am on Saturday as the modest brass instrument played the Last Post to mark Remembrance Day.

Now 105 years since the signing of the Armistice to end the Great War, services were held around the state to remember the duty and sacrifice of servicemen and women in all wars.

Traffic was halted at six city locations for the buglers to mark the moment.

The State Remembrance Service was held at the Shrine of Remembrance from 10.30am, and services were held at dozens of RSL sub-branches around the state.

Frankston RSL president Kevin Hillier, 70, a navy veteran who served in Vietnam rising to the rank of lieutenant, was also a music director and now organises today’s corner buglers.

“They all do a great job and I’m really proud of them,’’ he said.

Victoria’s Remembrance Day in photos

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The Shrine has held 11 Days of Remembrance, a program that has explored the capacity of Victorians to reflect on the impact of military conflict through artistic forms – art, literature, photography and music.

The Saturday service included an RAAF flyover and an address from the Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner.

Shrine chief executive Dean Lee said Remembrance Day gave solemn tribute to the sacrifices made to defend Australia and celebrate the hard-won peace at war’s end.

“It is a day of unity honouring the past to inspire a future secured through the courage and enduring tenacity of our veterans,’’ he said.

Veterans, war widows and serving defence members can also travel free on public transport by

showing their Veterans Card or by wearing a uniform or service medals.

Free public transport is also available to school students, Scouts, Guides, Australian Defence Force cadets and band members in uniform.

RSL Victoria president Robert Webster said the city buglers would mark the occasion with respect.

“There are some very special moments made across the state each and every Remembrance Day,” he said.

“If you are city-bound on the day, there’s no better way to experience this genuinely moving moment.”

Military personnel – past and present – will be admitted free to Stakes Day at Flemington where the VRC marked the occasion with a minute’s silence at 11am.

The club has also adopted the red poppy as the official flower of the day, replacing the traditional red rose.

Metro Trains also observed Remembrance Day across the rail network with a minute’s silence on all stations and trains.

Stream the Shrine’s Remembrance Day service live via the player below.

Originally published as Victoria pauses to remember sacrifice of servicemen and woman on Remembrance Day