“Our freedom came at a high price.”
That is the message etched in metal at the Dawesville War Memorial and one a local veteran wants locals to place front-of-mind ahead of Remembrance Day 2018.
Dawesville Returned and Services League (RSL) vice president Bart Mavrick has urged the community to show their respects during the national day.
In the post-war years, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month has attained a special significance in Australia.
Services will be held across the Peel region, including at Pinjarra, Mandurah and Dawesville war memorials.
It’s about remembering the sacrifices of people that never came home. I think it’s pretty important that we maintain that respect for those people.
- Dawesville RSL vice president Bart Mavrick
A Vietnam veteran, Mr Mavrick has experienced the horrors of war first-hand.
In 1968, the then 19-years-old was shipped off to the conflict in South-East Asia.
“I went to Vietnam in 1968 and again in 1970,” he said.
“I lost friends over there… but I have some long enduring friendships of mates from those days.
“War is a pretty nasty bit of business.
“Our freedom came at a pretty high price over the years and we must continue to make sure those people are dually recognised.
“The people who went to war gave us the freedom and the lifestyle that we enjoy today.
“It’s about remembering the sacrifices of people that never came home.”
He said it was good to see young people turning out to pay their respects each Anzac and Remembrance Day.
Each year, the Dawesville Anzac Day dawn service generally attracts about 2000 people.
He said those “remarkable' numbers highlighted the level of respect locals had.
“Obviously Remembrance Day isn’t as large as Anzac Day but I expect a few hundred people here to pay their respects,” Mr Mavrick said.
People who would like to attend the Dawesville service are urged to arrive about 10.50am. The community is invited to lay wreaths or flowers towards the end of the service. The Dawesville War Memorial is located on Estuary Road, near Leprechaun General Store along the foreshore.
