Tatura community honours veterans with wreaths, music and speeches

The service was led by Tatura RSL sub-branch vice-president Garth McMahon who thanked attendees and spoke of the history of Australia’s armed forces.

Vietnam veteran Bob Matheson spoke of the luck and prosperity Australians enjoy while chirping from the birds and chatter from the children’s playground could be heard as audible reminders of this.

RSL member Veronica Dowell recited the Anzac Requiem and the gathering was led in the Lord’s Prayer by Shirley Ferguson.

The crowd was invited to join in with Denise Robertson as she sang We Are Australian as a moment of celebration for the wide variety of people who call this place their home.

At the end of the ceremony, the Australian flag was raised to full height on a shortened flag pole which had been repaired after it was vandalised in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

Speaking at the service, City of Greater Shepparton councillor and Vietnam veteran Rod Schubert condemned the vandalism as disrespectful to fallen soldiers.

He also spoke of his support for Australian soldier Benjamin Roberts-Smith who has been accused of war crimes until any finding of guilt.

The Mactier Memorial Gardens are named for Robert Mactier from Tatura, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery.

The Mactier family was in attendance, including Robert’s nephew, 90-year-old Will Mactier.

Will visited his uncle’s grave site at Mont St Quentin in France where the caretakers “said we’ll look after it for you”.

Will’s relative Veronica Stedman said it was “lovely to see that people are still paying their respects.”

“The flowers are beautiful and it’s amazing to see so many.”

Robert Mactier’s Victoria Cross medal was worn by family member Tony O’Callaghan.