The Lane Cove Council and the Lane Cove RSL Sub Branch work very hard each year to present a moving ANZAC Day ceremony. As a consequence of working closely together Council and the RSL Sub Branch have also been working on further promoting Remembrance Day in Lane Cove.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18). Each year on this day Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11 am, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.
Why is this day important to Australia? According to the Australian War Memorial Website:
At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare. The allied armies had driven the German invaders back, having inflicted heavy defeats upon them over the preceding four months. In November the Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted allied terms that amounted to unconditional surrender.
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. The moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war. This first modern world conflict had brought about the mobilisation of over 70 million people and left between 9 and 13 million dead, perhaps as many as one-third of them with no known grave. The allied nations chose this day and time for the commemoration of their war dead.
A ceremony will be held in the Lane Cove Plaza at 10.50am (please be seated by 10.45am). If it is raining the service will be moved to the library.
The president of the Lane Cove RSL Sub Branch Mr Harvey Porter (who is also a former Lane Cove’s citizen of the year) works very hard to conduct a moving service. You can read more about Harvey Porter in our Lane Cove Local Identity series here.
Other Lane Cove Initiatives
Lane Cove Council has organised a range of initiatives to commemorate the Centenary of the Armistice of World War One.
Audio Guide
Did you know the names of over 20 streets and places in the Lane Cove area have been named after people who have a connection to World War One? Find out the streets and their connection via a specially prepared audio guide. A red poppy has been fixed to street signs and locations featured in this new audio guide.
To access the guide you can download the free izi.TRAVEL app via the Apple, Google and Windows app stores or download from the izi.TRAVEL website. To find the guided walk, search ‘Lane Cove Remembers’ once in the app to discover text, audio, images and GPS tracking to guide you along the walk.
In The Plaza
From Wednesday 7 November you are invited to write a message of remembrance as part of a special large poppy installation in Lane Cove Plaza in the lead up to Remembrance Day. Write your message and place it within the poppy as part of this commemoration project in the heart of Lane Cove.
New Signal Box Artwork
A new artwork now adorns the signal box on the corner of Burns Bay Road and Centennial Avenue. Artist Matt McLarty has painted a striking piece that reflects the local community’s connection to wars, conflict and peace operations.
Free History Talk
Join Graeme Davis from the Lane Cove RSL Sub Branch and principal of Family Military History as he discusses the Armistice and the implications it would have on a brave new world.
Lane Cove Library, Tuesday 13 November, 6:15pm – 8:00pm. Reserve your place online today.
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