ANZAC Day services in Wilaura attracted more than 150 people this year, as Australia commemorated the 100th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.
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The first service was a well attended Dawn Service at the Cenotaph, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast provided by the Willaura Lions Club.
The 9am Stand To at the Cenotaph preceded a march to the Memorial Hall for the service, which was attended by more than 150 people, including many younger members of the community.
Local students Sophie Gray, Scarlett Burmeister, Sophie Joyce and Cooper Ford were impressive as they read aloud the names of the fallen, and the Requiem.
Bugler Geoff Morley played The Last Post and Reveille, and a number of wreaths were laid.
Members of the Hamilton Pipe Band led the march to the Willaura Memorial Hall and the community was appreciative of its stirring sounds.
Guest speaker at the Memorial Hall service was Major Kaylene Baird.
Major Baird first enlisted in the Australian Defence Force-Reserve forces as a member of the Women's Australian Army Corp in 1978.
She was posted to Support Company, 2nd Royal Victoria Regiment, Victoria's regional Infantry Battalion, and trained and performed all aspects of the Infantry role including the transport section for 11 years.
In 1989 Major Baird transferred to the Royal Australian Engineers, completing her Mack conversion licence, before discharging and in 1993 re enlisting as a Specialist Service officer in the Royal Australian Nursing Corp. She is currently with 3 Health Support Battalion.
Major Baird has supported numerous military exercises and been deployed to Bougainville in 1999 and 2001, East Timor in 2001, and Iraq in 2005.
In 1998, Major Baird received a Commanding Officer's Commendation for contribution to Intensive Care Unit's equipment schedules.
In 2006 she was a recipient of the Meritorious Unit Citation for her duties as a member of the Medical Detachment to Iraq in 2005.
In 2007, Major Baird was awarded an Appreciation of Service Certificate for providing exemplary service dealing with complex personnel issues and providing positive solutions in a timely and professional manner when she was employed, at short notice, as ADJT 8th / 7th Battalion.
Major Baird spoke of the critical role played by nurses in war. In particular she described the experiences of Nurse Vivian Bullwinkel, sole survivor of the 1942 Banka Island massacre, who began her nursing career in Hamilton and went on to be awarded many honors, including the Florence Nightingale Medal, an MBE and the AM.
Major Baird also spoke of the support provided by women who stayed behind, including service in the Women's Land Army.
After the service the community was invited to the Plantation Memorial where another brief service was held to honor those soldiers from the First World War who are recognised there.
Much interest was shown in the display set up in the hall by members of the Willaura Historical Society. Photographs, newspapers, letters, and military items all revealed fascinating stories of war time activity both at home and on the front.
The organisers thanked all those involved in the services, and also the community for the support they showed for the 100th Anzac Day commemorations in Willaura.