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A FIELD of Remembrance ceremony in Albury was held indoors yesterday for the first time in its 13-year history.
Construction work on expanding the Albury Art Gallery meant the usual location at the cenotaph in QEII Square behind St Matthew’s Church was off limits.
About 300 people filled the church instead, helping create a Field of Remembrance with wooden crosses in the 2/23rd Battalion chapel.
Albury and District War Widows’ Guild president Val Evans said it was a “different but good feeling” inside the church.
Asked if the service should be held inside the church again next year, Mrs Evans replied “We will have to wait and see. I guess it’s a vote of what people want.”
Mrs Evans was the first to place a cross in a sandpit laid inside the church and was followed by community leaders including Albury mayor Kevin Mack and Assistant Minister of Education Sussan Ley.
“This is an annual recognition of all those who went to war, some of them were killed and some died later from injuries,” Mrs Evans said.
“It’s a tough day here for some people.
“It is something you don’t really forget. You can learn to live with it but it is always there.”
Archdeacon Peter MacLeod-Miller said holding the ceremony inside was a great use of the church building and believed it probably got a bigger turn-out.
Father MacLeod-Miller said the church provided shelter from the weather and greater security and accessibility, especially for elderly people.
He would be disappointed if it wasn’t held inside there in 2015.
“I would like to think we could use the church for more and more community things,” he said.
The “field” will be open until sunset on Anzac Day and anyone is welcome to place crosses.
Crosses may be obtained from Legacy House, ANZAC House, the SS&A Club and library museum.
A closing service will be held on April 26 at 11.30am.