Waroona students and community-at-large mark Remembrance Day with touching early service

It was a significant Remembrance Day service in Waroona last week as the town marked the end of an era. The combined schools and community service was held at the Waroona War Memorial on Friday, with dozens on people congregating at the South Western Highway site to reflect and pay their respects. Organised by the Waroona District High School, St Joseph’s School and the Shire of Waroona, this year’s service was held a day earlier to allow all students to participate in what has become a yearly tradition. Waroona District High School head councillor Isabelle Mendoza started the service by outlining the history of Remembrance Day and its meaning. “Today, we hold Remembrance Day services like this one, to honor the falling into make sure the next generation understand the great costs associated with war,” she said. Retired serviceman Barry Austin delivered the keynote address, stating there were three Rs on Remembrance Day: remembering, respecting and reflecting. He asked attendees to reflect on decisions and consequences. “Every conflict, every argument — whether it’s on the battlefield or whether it is in the schoolyard — starts with somebody making a decision, and that decision has consequences,” he said. “In terms of what we are remembering today, the decisions that were made years ago, and are still being made today when you think of places like Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, the decisions which are made that have disastrous, painful, and longstanding consequences.” Mr Austin said good decisions were made through being kind and compassionate, generous, and well informed. “I want to challenge you to go through your life doing your best to make good decisions, because if you do that then hopefully we will never repeat the kinds of things that we have to remember, respect and reflect on today,” he said. A number of wreaths by community members and organisations, while attendees were offered the chance to lay rosemary on the cenotaph following the service’s conclusion. It was the last service to be held at the South Western Highway and Parnell Street location, with the war memorial to be relocated to Railside Park before Anzac Day.