Harvey and Waroona residents gather to honour the fallen on Anzac Day

Despite the wind chilling to the bone, hundreds gathered in Waroona’s Railside park Thursday morning to pay their respects to the brave men and women who lost their lives in war.

As the sun slowly crept over the Darling Range, the warming crowd listened to shire president Mike Walmsley as he welcomed everyone to the inaugural Anzac service of the recently opened Railside Park.

“On Anzac Day, we come together in spirit to commemorate the women and men who have served our nation in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations,” he said.

“We honour the values that have been invested in the original Anzacs, loyalty, selflessness and courage.”

Following a welcome to country from reverend Robert Jetta, returned serviceman Barry Austin read the opening prayer for the crowd.

Having served in the Air Force and Navy until retiring in 1993, Mr Austin said prayer has a way of putting into words things what we would otherwise struggle to say.

“You see the crosses here, on either side of me, spread around the world on the graves of the thousands who gave their lives for our country, let us pay,” he said.

“May we, who inherit the freedom for which they fought, become instruments of peace, in our homes, workplaces and in the world.”

Former president of the now closed Waroona RSL Tracey Fickling read the Anzac requiem for the gathered.

She said on the morning of April 25, 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops landed under fire in Gallipoli, thrown into a violent campaign which forged the Anzac tradition.

“Each year, we pay homage not only to those original Anzacs, but all who have died or been disables in their service to this country,” she said.

“Not only do we honour the memory of those Australians who have fallen in battle, we share the sorrow of those who have mourned them, and all who have been the victims of armed conflict.”

Member for Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke and her husband, Cr Charlie Clarke laid the first ever wreath at the new memorial.

Mr Austin then read an ode to those fallen followed by the last post an a minute silence.

Residents in Harvey also gathered for a service, with Harvey RSL president Eric Hall presenting to the crowd.