Anzac Day 2026 services across the Shire were well attended. We came together to remember the debt we owe to those who fought in World War I and acknowledged the role our service men and women have played in contributing to our way of life since. I attended services at Drummond, Hepburn, Eganstown and Daylesford, then later the opening of the new Daylesford Avenue of Honour Memorial on Raglan Street. What stood out was the quiet respect shown by those who turned up, how well each event was organised, and the positive community spirit throughout the day.
For me, a moving part of several services were the telling of the stories of local men named on the honour roll. That made the ceremonies more personal and reminded us these were real people from our own towns and districts, not just names from a distant war. It helped connect our local history with the present day.
Another highlight was seeing the increasing involvement of so many of our young people. Student leaders from Daylesford Secondary College, the choir from Daylesford Primary School, and students from St Michael’s and Hepburn primary schools all took part, well supported by their teachers. Their involvement matters. It shows remembrance is not fading and that younger generations are prepared to carry these traditions forward.
At each service, Daylesford RSL President Ian Tinnetti, when introducing Sallie Harvey, who this year sang at seven services, spoke about the idea that “we are one.” I thought that was an important message, given the booing that had again, occurred at Anzac Day events in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Last week I had been in Sydney and seen the memorial in Hyde Park to First Nations men who volunteered in World War I, so his comments rang true for me.
The opening of the new memorial also showed what a community can do when people work together. The RSL, Hygge Property (the developers of Middleton Field), local fundraisers, the American Motorcycle Club, the Shire, Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Daylesford and District Historical Society, the Daylesford Community Branch of the Bendigo Bank, Rotary and many individuals all contributed.
I visited Gallipoli Peninsula last year, and one thing that stayed with me was stories of soldiers on both sides, Anzacs and Turks acknowledged and respected the humanity of each other. For me, that remains one of the key lessons of Anzac Day, respect others, value community, and, as stated by Ian Tinnetti, try to leave the country better than you found it.
