Country communities gather to honour those fallen at Remembrance Day commemorative services across South West

Communities gathered across the South West on Thursday to pay their respects to the servicemen and women who gave their lives for Australia. While this year’s Anzac Day ceremony saw the pandemic slash attendance numbers, last week’s Remembrance Day commemorative service had a “wonderful” turn out as the Bunbury community rocked up in force. Bunbury Returned and Services League president John Gelmi said it was moving to see the public turn out on the day. “I think they take away that feeling of respect for those that served, those that gave their lives, those that come back badly damaged mentally,” he said. “It’s just wonderful to see people turn up like this, especially the young ones from the schools.” A small group of Dardanup residents gathered at the town’s War Memorial for a small service, which saw one local from New Zealand Dave Tokona perform the Haka after the ceremony. Pockets of red could be spotted throughout the shire as part of its poppy project, with hand-crafted poppy pop-up installations on display at the River Valley Primary School Memorial, Bethanie Fields Entrance and Dardanup War Memorial. In Capel, councillor Rosina Mogg presented flowers on behalf of the shire and said the recognition and commemoration of Remembrance Day helped to keep community stories alive through the shire. “It’s so important to keep the story, the reminder and the remembrance for those who fought and died for us to have our freedom in our country, and many of those people were from small shires,” she said. Capel RSL president Ray Jones said he was grateful to have to chance to spread light on those who served in the community. “I’ve lost some mates, as many of the people here have, but there are many long past whose family and friends have all passed away as well,” he said. “The coming together of it all, and pausing for a thought that it could have been me, or it could have been my dad and I wouldn’t be me.” Donnybrook residents also came together to pay their respects at a service at the town’s cenotaph, with wreaths laid on behalf of the local RSL sub-branch, shire and the scouts. Browse images from the day below.