A NORTH East community came out in numbers on Tuesday to support the vision of some individuals who will never forget.
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Veterans Tony Elvidge and Rick Smith organised Tallangatta’s Anzac Day service, attended by at least 200 people.
It was the fourth year Mr Elvidge had arranged the event since the town’s RSL branch folded owing to lack of numbers.
The group’s final president Geoff McCormack assisted for the first two years while Mr Smith joined in this year.
Mr Elvidge served 22 years in Britain with the Royal Marine Commandos, then spent six years in the Australian Army.
“The Royal Marines landed at Gallipoli with the Anzacs,” he said.
“It’s something I feel very passionate about; these Anzacs stood up when it was only a young country and went to war for Mother England and a lot didn’t come back. We just need to keep the message going for generations.”
The service in the memorial hall included a catafalque party and a presentation by guest speaker Warrant Officer Kevin Hopwood.
Wreath laying was followed by the Ode of Remembrance, with Tallangatta Secondary College captain, Olivia Reid reading the Anzac requiem.
Tallangatta resident Graeme Aldrich said the service’s success was a credit to the organisers.
“I would feel that the attendance there was probably the largest I’ve seen and I’ve been in this community for a fairly long time,” he said.
“When we arrived down there, reasonably early, they were already bringing out extra chairs, and then they brought out more chairs.”
Mr Aldrich thanked Mr Elvidge and Mr Smith for their efforts to keep the annual tradition going.
“It would be a real shame if observance disappeared from our community,” he said.
Mr Elvidge praised the support given by his wife Angela and Mr Smith’s wife Casey in preparing for the service.
“I’m humbled by the amount of people that do turn out,” he said.
“For such a small town, they always turn up and support present and past serving Anzacs.”
“It’s just community, it’s lovely, fantastic to get everyone together and talk to people about the great-grandfathers and what stories they had. I’ll keep doing it as long as I can stand up and say something about it.”
