Kincumber High School students have joined forces with Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College (The Entrance Campus) and Brisbane Water Secondary College (Woy Woy Campus) to present a unique Twilight Commemorative Service this Remembrance Day (November 11).
Students from the three schools have been working closely with the Last Post Association in Ypres Belgium, The Entrance Long Jetty RSL sub branch and the Australian War Memorial to develop and present the Remembrance Day event. A special feature of this service will be the playing of the Last Post by the Menin Gate Buglers from Belgium who have accepted the students’ invitation to visit Australia and participate in this unique event.
The Menin Gate in Belgium is perhaps the most famous of the WW1 memorials in Europe and marks the spot where over 350,000 allied soldiers passed on their way to meet their then enemy. The memorial itself records the names of nearly 56,000 men, including 6,000 Australians, who perished in that confl ict and have no known resting place.
Every evening at 8:00pm since the memorial was constructed in 1927, buglers from the Ypres Volunteer Fire Brigade have sounded the Last Post in a moving daily act of remembrance. In 1936, the people of Belgium gifted Australia the original lion statues that stood on this spot in gratitude for the sacrifice our servicemen made in defending their homeland.
These statues are normally on display as you enter the Australian War Memorial but have recently been loaned to Belgium for their centenary commemorations of the Battle of Passchendaele. The student’s ceremony will pay tribute to Australian service men and women and in particular highlight the signifi cant contribution of Central Coast community members and their families in the First World War.
Students have identified 18 Central Coast men whose names appear on the Menin Gate Memorial and those names will be called in a special Roll of Honour during the service. The Twilight Service will take place at The Entrance Memorial Park and Cenotaph commencing at 8:15pm on Wednesday, November 11 and it will include the sounding of the Last Post at 9:00pm.
This is timed to coincide with 11:00am on the Western Front and will mark the exact moment all fighting in the First World War ceased, 97 years ago. Members of the public are invited to attend this very special event and community members or groups wishing to lay a wreath will have the opportunity within the service. The event has attracted valued support from all levels of government and local groups.
The Australian Army Band volunteered their services and will feature in the official ceremony as well as performing a preservice medley of World War I songs. This unique commemorative tribute has received the endorsement of Dr Brendan Nelson of the Australian War Memorial who wrote: “The relationship forged between our two countries from this terrible war is enduring and strengthened by what you are doing. “I congratulate you on an excellent initiative and you have my full support, admiration and endorsement for this project.“
Students have been responsible for fundraising and raised the majority of monies for this project through the sale of ‘Peace and Remember Me’ rose bushes. They have organised a detailed schedule for their Belgian Guests during their stay in Australia that includes public appearances at: the Hyde Park Memorial in Sydney on Sunday, November 8 at 11:00am; the Twilight Service on November 11 at The Entrance Cenotaph at 8:15pm; and the Australian War Memorial on November 14 and 15.
Article, Oct 28, 2015 Roger Macey, Brisbane Water Secondary College