RSL leads community in remembrance, 99 years on

Tomorrow will mark 99 years since the guns on the Western Front fell silent, signalling the end of World War I.

And again, Busselton Returned and Services League will bring the community together at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month to observe a minute’s silence.

“Of all the armed forces in all the countries, Australia was the only one that relied on volunteers,” Busselton RSL president Keith Scardifield said.

“Thousands enlisted and not many people came back. These people gave up everything so we could stay the lucky country ... and that deserves our respect and honour.”

The service will begin at 10.45am at the Busselton cenotaph on Saturday and all are invited back to the RSL hall for refreshments.

While there are no WWI veterans left — Florence Green, who served in the British Women’s Royal Air Force, died at the age of 111 in 2012 — Busselton RSL secretary Glenn Woodward said many people had parents or grandparents who served and remembered what it was like growing up during wartime.

This is why the RSL will spend today visiting aged care facilities — to ensure those who are willing, but not quite able, can also pay their respects.

“It’s very meaningful for them so we want to involve them any way we can,” Mr Woodward said.

Students also spent the week in preparation for Remembrance Day, with felt poppies being “planted” in public gardens in Busselton and Dunsborough.

Dunsborough Primary School Student Council displayed flowers created by Year 2 students in Dunsborough Lions Park’s Zonta Friendship Garden on Wednesday, with help from City of Busselton trainee development officers Tayla Pillage and Georgia O’Neill, and several people walking by.

More were planted yesterday in Victoria Square near the War Memorial by students of St Mary MacKillop and Cape Naturaliste colleges.

Busselton City councillors were led through a recital of The Ode by Busselton mayor and ex-navy man Grant Henley at this week’s meeting.