PAST and serving female members of the armed forces marched at the head of Millicent’s Anzac Day parade this week.
Ex-servicewoman Christine Grant and current Royal Australian Air Force member Shai Moran occupied the prime position alongside Millicent Returned and Services League president Chris Mathias.
The service and sacrifice of women in times of war and peace were similarly acknowledged at hundreds of other Anzac Day ceremonies around the nation.
Crowds lined George Street and applauded the 100 Anzac Day marchers as well as those veterans driven in vintage cars.
Members of the Millicent Legacy Widows Club and State Emergency Service and Country Fire Service personnel took part as well as many medal-wearing next of kin.
After the participants marched to the Cross of Sacrifice a service attended by a gathering of 400 was held.
Attending the 45 minute service was World War II naval veteran Fred Ellis, several Vietnam War veterans as well as other ex-service personnel.
Prayers were offered by Pastor Adriano Petraccaro of the Millicent Community Church and he also read from a passage of scripture.
The other speakers were Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi, member for MacKillop Nick McBride and Millicent RSL president Chris Mathias.
Mr McBride stressed the need for support for the mental health of veterans while Mr Mathias outlined the events of the Western Front 100 years ago and the postwar Anzac Day traditions.
Mr Gandolfi described the shortened lives of three members of the local Giddings family who had made the supreme sacrifice during World War II and whose names are commemorated on the Millicent Cross of Sacrifice.
The familiar elements of the Anzac Day commemoration were staged including the singing of Advance Australia Fair, the playing of Last Post and Reveille, the minute’s silence, flag ceremony and reciting the Ode of Remembrance.
Wreaths were laid by the RSL, Mayor and Mayoress Peter and Kathy Gandolfi, Mr McBride, Peter Altschwager (representing member for Barker Tony Pasin) and representatives of numerous local organisations and schools.
Among the onlookers was Adrian Vandervlag of Mount Burr, who attends most Anzac Day services.
His direct association with war service is through his late father who served in the Dutch Army during World War II.
“I am here in remembrance of the sacrifices made,” Mr Vandervlag said.
At the same time as the street march a service attended by 70 was held at Boneham Aged Care Services.
Organised by the Millicent Baptist Church for the sixth consecutive Anzac Day, a number of war veterans were present.
Paulene Hales, formerly of the Royal Australian Navy, said Anzac Day “means everything” to her.
She said her health meant she was unable to attend the Cross of Sacrifice service as she did last year.
“It is something which is in my heart forever,” Ms Hales said.
“I appreciate what the young servicemen are doing now and carrying on the service for Australia.
“They are brave young men.”
Ex-soldier Ted Lewis and fellow Boneham Aged Care Services resident shared her sentiments.
“I pay my respects for those who did not return,” Mr Lewis said.
“I lost a good mate during World War II.
“His name was Norman Medlin and he was killed in Borneo in 1945.”
