Tiny town of Cygnet was home to three Victoria Cross recipients, Anzac Day crowd told

THE picturesque Channel township of Cygnet came to a standstill as residents turned out en masse for a grassroots Anzac Day commemoration.

The Cygnet Anzac Day parade marching towards the Cenotaph. Picture: PATRICK GEE

THE picturesque Channel township of Cygnet came to a standstill yesterday as residents turned out en masse for a grassroots Anzac commemoration.

The main street was closed as former servicemen and women, representatives of the emergency services, and the local scout troop marched to the town’s centrally located Cenotaph.

A small town with unusually strong military links — three Victoria Cross recipients hail from its tiny population — Cygnet residents in their hundreds offered heartfelt applause as the parade passed.

The town then came together for a moving and poignant service to honour the fallen.

Cygnet RSL sub-branch president Barry Quinn addressed the crowd before laying a wreath each for his father and grandfather. Mr Quinn, who joined the army aged 17 to maintain a strong family link to the Australian armed services, said Anzac Day held incredible importance to him, and to the tight-knit Cygnet community.

“We’re such a small community, but have played such a large role in the history of Australia’s involvement in wars over the years,” Mr Quinn said.

“That’s reflected in the amount of people we have turning up for Anzac Day, and the fact that we have three Victoria Cross recipients from our little town.

“The town is a very community-orientated town, Anzac Day is very important, and people do support it.”

Mr Quinn said he was the fifth generation of his family to serve in the armed forces overseas — his own involvement beginning in 1989 and including tours of Rwanda, East Timor and Bougainville. He said his reverence of Anzac Day was matched by most Cygnet residents.

“For me it’s everything, it’s bigger than grand finals,” Mr Quinn said.

“To me there is no other day. It’s the one day of the year that I can reflect on what I’ve done, and on how my family has served.”

Vietnam veteran Frank Bonham said he had avoided Anzac Day for many years following his return to Australia, but now attended every April 25. But once the service was over, he immediately returned home with his wife, and would not think about his time in the armed forces for another full year.

Huon MLC Robert Armstrong said the strong turnout was no surprise, given the area’s deep links with the armed forces.

Originally published as Tiny town of Cygnet was home to three Victoria Cross recipients, Anzac Day crowd told