The Mayor's Column
Every Australian suburb, town and city has one. Usually in a park, sometimes a square, often flanked by old-fashioned pines and rose gardens and for most of the year, held in deep respect but not particularly noticeable, as we go about everyday life.
But at this time of year they are the focus of the community, places where people gather to reflect on the tragedy of war and remember with gratitude our own citizens who paid the highest price of war with their lives.
They are, of course, the local Cenotaphs.
The names are recorded alphabetically, sometimes, awfully, there will be members of the same local family and we pause for a while to remember them and pay our respects.
The Mosman sub- Branch of the RSL, with the support of Mosman Council, holds a ceremony on the Sunday preceding Anzac Day at our Cenotaph in the precinct of the Alan Border oval.
This year, we who were there were deeply moved by a speech by Major Eileen Henderson RFD [Rtd], Honorary Secretary of the Mosman RSL sub-Branch. Hers was a story we do not often hear, the compelling story of war from a medical point of view, particularly of the women who have nursed the victims in horrific circumstances without even basic equipment. No glory of war story here, but the confronting facts.
On Anzac Day itself over a thousand residents, young and old, braved the drizzly morning to join in a deeply respectful and atmospheric ceremony to mark the anniversary at the dawn service held at the stunning Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, location at Georges Heights.
Our thanks to Mosman Lions Club which provided hot bacon and eggs for breakfast.
These are the things which matter; these are the things which bind a community.
If you missed out this year, come to the Cenotaph ceremony and do consider getting up early for the Anzac Dawn ceremony in 2009.
Cr Denise Wilton, Mayor of Mosman
