Tambar Springs was awash with honour on ANZAC Day, after a large contingent of Vietnam veterans from across NSW and the Veterans’ Motorcycle Club descended on the village for a special service.
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The Tambar Springs Cenotaph holds special significance, with the plaque claiming the memorial is the oldest one in Australia dedicated to WW 1 servicemen.
On Friday, Daniel Divotdean from the motorcycle club and ex-servicewoman, Carol Lees – who served in the Women’s Royal Australian Army Core – led the service which included hymns, prayers and the laying of wreaths.
It was a large gathering for the small village, with around 150 people turning out to pay their respects.
A recording of helicopter contact on the battlefield was played, as well as the song “A Pittance of Time” which drew tears from many of the veterans.
Many then proceeded to lay a poppy on the Cenotaph, including young children.
Attending the service was William Lamb – believed to be Tambar Springs’ last living war veteran whose name is the final one to be etched on the Roll of Honour at the Cenotaph gates.
Also at the service was Gary Brown, a Commander in the Royal Australian Navy in which he served for 41 years.
Commander Brown was visiting his son Simon and three grandchildren.
“The service was outstanding,” he said.
The service was also special for 11-year-old Liam Nelson who is the great, great nephew of the late Ivy Fouracre from Tambar Springs, who served in the Australian Airforce during WW 2 and passed away recently.
Liam laid a wreath on behalf of the local public school, and raised the flag.
There was a large number of Vietnam veterans who attended the service – after the Dubbo branch agreed to visit Tambar Springs this year.
The Veterans’ Motorcycle Club participated as part of a yearly event where they choose a small, rural place to attend ANZAC Day.
It includes not only veterans from Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Timor – but associated members from across NSW.
This year’s service formed part of the Blackie Reid Memorial Ride – a tribute to member Anthony ‘Blackie’ Reid OAM who served in 3 SQN (SVN) 1966–1967 and 1 SQN (SVN) 1970 in the Vietnam War. He remained in the Australian Army until 2001 at Warrant Office Class One.
His overseas service also included Singapore, Malaysia, West Germany, United Kingdom and western Sahara.
The Ode and The Last Post were presented, before the poignant poem “In Flanders Fields” was read.
The service ended with the national anthem followed by a luncheon held at the Royal Hotel.
