Anzac Day 2023: Huge crowds flock to Quarry Reserve Ferntree Gully, Upwey-Belgrave RSL
Thousands of residents have gathered at Anzac Day services in Knox and Yarra Ranges, with a special march through Upwey. See the pictures.
Outer East
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Huge crowds have flocked to Anzac Day services across Knox and Yarra Ranges, as the community came together to honour those who have served our country.
With kookaburras singing in the background, about 900 people attended a Dawn Service at Quarry Reserve in Upper Ferntree Gully, where the names of local soldiers who died were read aloud, followed by the Last Post and the Australian national anthem.
Local groups also came forward to lay wreaths underneath the Australian flag.
Ferntree Gully CFA captain Seamus Smith said it was great to see so many locals paying their respects on such an important day.
“It is an important day of remembrance to think of those who went and provided for what we’ve got today and gave the sacrifice of their lives,” he said.
“A lot of young people were drafted into the military without any question and it’s great to see so many young kids getting along and being involved and wanting to support this event as well.”
Upper Ferntree Gully CFA captain Peter Smith said it was great to see so many young people in attendance.
“I hope it will never be forgotten what so many people did for us so we can stand here and talk about it,” he said.
Ferntree Gully CFA’s Graham Crichton said the Quarry Reserve ceremony was first held three or four years before Covid.
“It was a very small ceremony that a couple of members of the community came up with then Covid put a stop to it,” he said.
But Mr Crichton said he reached out to Ferntree Gully CFA captain Seamus Smith and the Ferntree Gully Rotary Group to keep the ceremony going.
“I said ‘we can do this, we can’t let it go’.
Mr Crichton said the ceremony was now getting bigger and better every year.
“I just think it has that atmosphere – you cannot beat this atmosphere (of having the cliff faces at the quarry) if you want to remember what happened at Gallipoli.
“The service has now been cemented into our culture and it will continue.
“The support from the community has been just amazing.”
Foothills Community Care chief executive Stephen Barrington said it was great to see such a big crowd turn out.
“Having it here in this amazing setting gives the opportunity for local people to come, to really connect and remember those who have gone before us,” he said.
“But also to remember we don’t want to go through this again.”
A big crowd also attended a Dawn Service at the Upwey-Belgrave RSL sub-branch before cheering on participants in an Anzac Day march down the Upwey Main St.
A number of local groups took part, including scouts and the CFA.
A ceremony was then held at the Upwey-Belgrave sub-branch.
Big crowds also attended services across the Yarra Ranges, including at the Mt Evelyn RSL sub-branch and Boronia sub-branch.
“A record crowd joined in for our biggest and best commemoration ever,” the Mt Evelyn RSL posted on Facebook.
“And the kookaburras played their part too.
“Thank you to all who made this service so special.”
Check out all the photos from Anzac Day in the outer east.
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