DESPITE a limit on attendees, the feeling was no less meaningful at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Muswellbrook today.
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On the 100-year anniversary of when the gunfire fell silent on the Western Front, local officials took the opportunity to mark their own anniversary, as it has now been 30 years since the re-dedication of the Muswellbrook War Cemetery.
Retired NSW Police Officer Dave Sorensen was at the event both today and in 1989, and wrote a letter detailing the history and importance of the site:
On this day 30 years ago. I stood here in this place presiding over the service of the rededication of the Muswellbrook War Cemetery as a Constable First Class in full Police Dress uniform proudly wearing the service medals of my grandfathers.
Now 30 years on, I again stand in this place retired as a veteran front line serviceman of the NSW Police Force and Emergency Services proudly wearing my own service medals. Commendations and unit badges.
The old farm gates to the Muswellbrook War Cemetery were permanently locked in 1957 and from that point on the War Cemetery had succumbed to decades of neglect, to a point where it became so overgrown in Tea tree and Lantana, that it became forgotten.
In 1989, I ventured into the over grown site and discovered the war graves of these 6 souls.
The graves were in total disrepair and the headstones had fallen and broken beyond repair.
At this point, I believed there to be a need to honour those who lay here with a better place of rest and respect.
In collaboration with the late Joe Holmes President of the Muswellbrook RSL Sub Branch, St Hilliers Correctional Centre Superintendent Ken Middlebrook, Members of the Muswellbrook RSL Sub Branch and key members of the local community, it was decided to put a proposal forward to redevelop the site.
After receiving authority from Kensington Palace, the Patron of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission HRH Prince Michael, Duke of Kent gave his full endorsement to the proposal.
With the grateful assistance of noted members of the Muswellbrook Community, Staff and inmates from St Hilliers Gaol and Muswellbrook Businesses the redevelopment of this cemetery commenced in January 1990.
It took almost 12 months to complete the project, resulting in the rededication of the Muswellbrook War Cemetery by the Australian War Graves Commission and the site being handed over to the guardianship of the Muswellbrook RSL Sub Branch.
It is with honour to again be standing on the grounds of this War Cemetery and being proud that the legacy we left 30 years ago remains a well maintained place of peace, rest and reflection for these 6 souls.
It should be noted that without the tireless dedication of the members of the Muswellbrook RSL Sub Branch and in particular the late Mr John Scobels the War Cemetery would not have stood the tests of time for the last 30 years.
Even though today marks the 30th anniversary since the rededication of this War Cemetery we should not lose sight of the true meaning of this day when the guns fell silent on the Battlefields, Air and Oceans.
It is a day to reflect and remember those who gave their all for our freedom and liberty.
As a veteran, I install upon all veterans and members of the community the importance of educating our children and our grandchildren on continuing to honour, respect and reflect, the legacy that our lost diggers, veterans past and present and current serving members of the front line have left behind for our freedom and that these souls may no longer be forgotten into the future.