The supreme sacrifice of Austalians during times of war was not forgotten in Werribee, as thousands gathered before dawn to commemorate Anzac Day.
Tributes were paid and wreaths laid around the cenotaph, as people of all ages and backgrounds honoured the men and women who have served Australia.
In addition to the many veterans and volunteers from the Werribee RSL, which hosts the annual the event, younger members of the community continued to bear the torch of remembrance.
Student leaders from Thomas Carr College shared their personal connections to the day, and what the event has come to symbolise for their cohort and generation.
Even in 2025, there was still a connection to the Gallipoli landings – the very event which the date April 25 commemorates.
The Werribee Half Battery is a living history group which has brought the original Werribee Half Battery back to life. The original Werribee Half Battery was part of Victorian Horse Artillery raised in 1889.
Major Allan Sterling said the group, which was reformed in 2013, honoured the legacy of the original Werribee Half Battery.
“The commander of the Victorian Horse Artillery, what we represent, was Major [Frederic] Hughes who went on to become a major general and he actually commanded the Light Horse at the charge at the Nek,” Major Sterling said.
Emphasising that Anzac Day is not a glorification of war, Major Sterling said that Australians should not take the battle for freedom and political rights for granted.
“The freedoms we have here are something that I think so many people take for granted, and we had to fight for that in multiple wars.
“There are a lot of threats in the world today and we just need to be aware of them.”
For Battery Sergeant Major Nathan Jackson the magic of the day is the Anzac spirit itself.
“There are still many people who care about what the Anzac spirit means, so getting people like the veterans who are here all the way down to the young school children and the scouts is great.
“Hearing all of them talk and getting to be a part of it is a great thing to do. I have been doing dawn services here since 2015, and it just seems like every year it’s a bigger crowd.”
