April 18, 2024This morning, Northern Health held our annual ANZAC Day Service at Bundoora Centre.
Our ANZAC Day Service has been closely associated with our patients for over a decade, particularly those at Bundoora Centre. The service provided an opportunity for us to gather to remember, reflect and pay tribute to those who made great sacrifices to make our country a safer place,
The service opened with a mounting of the Catafalque Party from the 138th Signal Squadron, Simpsons Barracks, before our master of ceremonies, Lisa Cox, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, and Associate Professor Jason Cirone, Chief Allied Health Officer, welcomed everyone.
“On 25 April, 1915, Gallipoli was the site of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War,” Jason said.
“Today, we remember and honour the 60,000 Australians who were killed and 156,000 wounded or taken prisoner in that war. We also remember over 800 Aboriginal Australians who landed at Gallipoli, 13 of whom were killed in action.”
“We remember the more than 3,000 Australian civilian nurses who volunteered for active service in the First World War.”
Representatives from across Northern Health featured and attended the service, including Jo-Anne Mazzeo, Northern Health Board Director, Debra Bourne, Chief Operating Officer and Peter McWilliam, Northern Health Foundation Board Chair.
Members of our local community were also in attendance, including The Honourable Colin Brooks, State Member for Bundoora, Minister for Development Victoria, Minister for Precincts and Minster for Creative Industries, Councillor Tom Melican, Mayor, Banyule City Council and Councillor Richard Stockman, Nillumbik City Council.
Also in attendance was Dal Crocker, President Greensborough RSL, Timothy Riley, Commemorations Officer, Montmorency Eltham, Bill Pattinson, Bugler and David Boyle, Watsonia RSL.
Our very own Northern Health Community Choir, sponsored by Northern Health Foundation, sang The Lord’s Prayer.
The choir was also joined by the choirs of St Damian’s Primary School and Northside Christian College to sing the Australian National Anthem, along with other Australian classics.
Thank you also to the 138th Signal Squadron, Simpsons Barracks, for providing their services today.
You can watch the livestream of the service here.
