Nelson Bay Remembrance Day Commemorations Port Stephens Port Stephens News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 16, 2022 Josh Perry and Zoe Smith of Shoal Bay Public School at the Remembrance Day Service in Nelson Bay. Photo: Marian Sampson. ANZAC Park at Nelson Bay was filled with people to commemorate Remembrance Day, with young and old flocking to attend the service, many wearing medals. Remembrance Day 2022 commemorated 104 years since the guns on the Western Front of WWI fell silent. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Since this time Australia has been involved in numerous wars and conflicts around the world. Remembrance Day commemorates each one of these including WWII, the Korean War, Malaya, Borneo, The Vietnam War, Somalia, East Timor and Afghanistan. During the service recognition was paid to “Australian soldiers, sailors and aviators” who have been “the scythe and the bandage for all of our government’s requirements, including those domestic”. Of note was the recognition of the issues around suicide within the Defence Force and ex-Defence Force members, and the Royal Commission probing the “war within”. At the service, tribute was paid to friends and colleagues who have succumbed to wounds unseen. Williamtown RAAF Base Wing Commander Chris Wheeler addressed those assembled. “Many lost their lives during the war (WWI) including 60,000 Australian Service Personnel or about one in five of those who served overseas and many thousands more were wounded in body or mind,” he said. “During the war and after its end, survivors returned home to a country both grateful for their service and traumatised by the war’s immense cost. “Only a decade later Australia joined Commonwealth forces in WWII.” The cost in human lives for Australia was once again traumatic. This was followed by Korea and Vietnam. “Over the years too many have died, too many made ill or wounded by their war service,” Wing Commander Wheeler said. The RAAF base at Williamtown employees 3800 military and civilian personnel, and handles over 1,000 air movements per week. The base has been active since 15 February 1941, making our community’s connection to service and Remembrance Day strong. For those gathered as the tributes were laid, the emotion of the day was one of pride, some sadness and mateship. Among those who laid wreaths were Member For Paterson Meryl Swanson, Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington, Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer and Port Stephens Councillor Leah Anderson. Lest We Forget. By Marian SAMPSON Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson, Port Stephens Councillor Leah Anderson and Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington laid wreaths at the Nelson Bay Remembrance Day Service in ANZAC Park. Photo: Marian Sampson. The stunning Fly Past by RAAF Wedgetail E7A from 2 Squadron, the oldest squadron in the Airforce. Williamtown is home to six E7A and each is worth around half a billion dollars. Photo: Marian Sampson. Husband and wife Mark Foley and Sarah Foley with their medals. Mark served 31 Years in the Royal Air Force and twelve years in Ground Defence, finishing his career in defence at Williamtown RAAF Base. Photo: Marian Sampson. School students were among those commemorating Remembrance Day at Nelson Bay. Josh Perry and Zoe Smith of Shoal Bay Public School. Photo: Marian Sampson. Local nurse Megan Harding, Director Of Nursing at Care For You At Home, dressed in a replica WWII nurses uniform to commemorate Remembrance Day at Nelson Bay. Megan currently cares for many local veterans. Photo: Marian Sampson.
