On Tuesday, 18 April 2023, the team at Lilydale Memorial Park invited the public to join us for a Twilight Anzac Service at Federation Chapel.
The event was a poignant occasion to reflect on the contribution and sacrifice of those who served.
On the day, the community was also invited to observe our large-scale remembrance poppy display. Featuring over 7,000 handcrafted poppies, the installation was kindly created by members of the Rotary Club of Lilydale, Friends of Rotary and residents of the Evelyn Ridge Retirement Village.
The installation will be on display next to the Federation Chapel at Lilydale Memorial Park until Thursday 27 April. We encourage the public to view this moving tribute while it remains.
The service was officiated by Allyson Nicholls from Lifelong Celebrancy.
Bill Dobson, President of the Lilydale RSL sub-branch, assisted with a reading and the Ode of Remembrance.
Local historian Anthony McAleer acknowledged and paid tribute to the many servicepeople interred at our Lilydale cemeteries and other GMCT sites.
In particular, he drew attention to the unrecognised story of Sister Doris Agatha Barry, who enlisted with the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1916 after her three brothers joined the war as soldiers.
Doris served bravely on multiple fronts before boarding a ship home in 1919. On the journey, she met and fell in love with the returning soldier William Scurry, who designed a self-firing rifle device that helped save Anzac lives during the retreat at Gallipoli. The pair married soon after, and both lie to rest at Lilydale Lawn Cemetery.
To close the service, musician Tom Steele sounded the Last Post and vocalist Anthony Gerace performed the Australian National Anthem.
Portrait of Sister Doris Agatha Barry. Image from Australian War Memorial.