Over one hundred people gathered in front of the Soldiers Memorial Hall building at the Dimboola Memorial Secondary College at 6 am this morning to observe the third annual dawn service in the town.

The service was conducted by the President of the Dimboola Sub Branch of the R.S.L., Ivan Jones, and included guest speaker Charles Rees and the sounding of the last post by Ian Lehmann.

Charles spoke about the creation of Avenues of Honour, noting that the one lining Anzac Avenue which encircles the front oval at the College was first planted in 1948 as a Memorial to those who did not return from both the First and Second World Wars, and has since included the one fallen local from the Korean War.

The recording of five servicemen from the First World War as "returned' when they are actually buried in cemeteries in France or Turkey and therefore they were not allocated a tree in the Avenue also formed part of the address.

Charles noted that this oversight would be corrected during a ceremony on the 21st of May when additional trees would be dedicated to these fallen heroes, and he issued an invitation to all members of the public to attend and witness this event.

Despite overnight rain, the conditions for the service were mild and comfortable and the flag pole and Matron Paschke memorial sundial were both illuminated which added to the mystic of the occasion.

Following the dawn service a gunfire breakfast was provided by the Secondary College.

At 8.30 am members of the town's schools, Girl Guides, CFA, and R.S.L. along with a number of local residents joined together to march from the front gates of the College along Anzac Drive to the forecourt of the Soldiers Memorial Hall for the wreath laying ceremony.

The captains of all the Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, Dimboola Primary School and St Peter's Lutheran School along with representatives of the R.S.L., CWA, Hindmarsh Shire, Scouts and CFA all placed wreaths at the cenotaph.

A wreath was also laid at the Matron Paschke memorial.

This was followed by a commemoration service at Dimboola Memorial Secondary College auditorium which was led by Uniting Church minister the Reverend Tupe.

Ivan Jones introduced the guest speaker, Harry John, who also filled this role last year, but none the less gave a stirring talk about the significance of music in both the military context and in life in general.

Harry also noted that he has been sounding the last post wherever he has been at the appropriate time, since 1938.

Secondary College captains Remi Kuhne and Kynan Clarke also address the assembled audience that numbered well over one hundred.

Ian Lehmann again sounded the Last Post and the Nhill-Dimboola Band provided the music for the singing of the hymns.

Click here for more photos from the services in Dimboola...


Dimboola Memorial Secondary College Captains, Remi Kuhne and Kynan Clarke, laying a wreath at the front of the Memorial Building on Anzac Day morning.