Scone ANZAC Day Service

AS ATHOL Rose, a returned serviceman of WWII read the Ode of Remembrance at the Scone ANZAC service, his voice wavered slightly at the end and was a reminder that our servicemen and women carry the burden of war long after they have left the battle field and well into the twighlight of their lives.

John Flood, Vietnam veteran addressing the crowd at Scone ANZAC Day service.

John Flood OA was the guest speaker at the service, he is a veteran of the Vietnam war who served in Nui Dat, fought in the Tet offensive and received an Order of Australia for his work in veterans health and the Cavalry Association.

John recalled 21 of his mates were killed in Vietnam and asked the crowd to remember what the spirit of the ANZAC means, “not a military day, but a day to commemorate, not celebrate…to pause and reflect our contribution to peace and stability in our region and the world.”

He said we should praise the civilians, mainly Australian women who held the home front, to remember the strength and character of our servicemen and women and to feel pride for those who serve and have optimism that they have made a difference to the lives of the people in the war zones where they have served.

What the ANZAC spirit to John was fostering qualities of embracing new citizens into our community, caring for each other, for our elderly and Aboriginal people; of identifying areas that need attention and doing the right thing.

He finished with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “For those who fight for it life has a flavour the sheltered will never know.”

Gallery of images below.

The Scone area no longer has any surviving World War I veterans, there are only a few remaining WWII veterans and this year George Clementson joked the local Vietnam veterans can no longer claim they are the young blokes as many of them enter their 70s.

George introduced the local Vietnam veterans individually:

• Scone servicemen: John Brooks, Bruce Brown, Don Albert, Robert Goodworth, Gary Dee, Wayne Saunders, Rodger Prike, Ian Drew, Bruce McCrae, Phil Tully and Peter Willard;
• US soldiers who now call Scone home: John McCormick and Charles Swartz Snr;
• Visiting veterans: Glen Cross, John Flood, Michael Lambley and Andy Jansen;
• Passed away: Bill French, Robert McInery, Neville Milton and Colin Sinclair.

Organisations who laid wreaths included:

• Scone RSL sub-branch;
• Scone RSL Club;
• Upper Hunter Shire Council;
• Legacy;
• NSW Police Service;
• Scone High School;
• Scone Grammar School;
• Scone Public School;
• St Mary’s primary school;
• St Joseph’s high school;
• Scone RSL Pipes and Drums;
• Australian Red Cross;
• Scone Masonic Lodge and
• 12th Light Horse.

Note: If you have lost a black jacket at the parade, please contact scone.com.au and we will put you in touch with the person who has it in safe keeping.