Camden RSL Sub-Branch held its annual Remembrance Day at Macarthur Park with guest speaker Kate Munari highlighting the importance of remembering.
Ms Munari, a retired Australian Naval helicopter pilot who served twice in Afghanistan, comes from a long line of military personnel. (Ms Munari pictured first on the right with Camden RSL Sub-Branch president, Ian Richard-Evan and Camden mayor, councillor Therese Fedeli, the 7th Light Horse Brigade were also in attendance.)
Ms Munari spoke of the relevance of the day that saw Germany sign the armistices putting an end to World War One – 104 years ago.
“I am particularly fond of Remembrance Day; as it has a sombre reflective quality like no other day and allows me the opportunity to take time as an individual to quietly remember.
“This day brings a raft of memories and emotions to me.”
Ms Munari reflected briefly on her time in Afghanistan – landing in the war zone at night, Christmas lunches and the attending the “vigils of soldiers killed in action the previous day...”
She also recalled her own grandfather, who was conscripted in the army at 18 and served in World War Two in New Guinea and the then Dutch Indies (now Indonesia). She said he never spoke of his experiences. His accounts of his four and a-half year service in the family history book can be summed up in one paragraph.
“It was an interesting period in life and somewhat of a culture shock. It did not endear to me to life in the open and I looked forward to the time when I would be able to return to what I regarded as a normal life.”
Her great-great-great uncle John Gordon served as a doctor at Gallipoli where he set up the first field hospital. He remained in the war until the armistices was signed.
Ms Munari said the First World War might be a long time ago, but Remembrance Day is still important on the battles and wars that came after.
“The impacts of those wars on individuals, families and on societies. Remembrance Day is exactly that; a day to remember the effects of war, the cost of war and the lessons learnt in the hope that each time we remember we move closer to preventing wars in the future.”