A wreath was laid by club members Di and Tony Carson at the Indigenous Memorial Service recently held at The Shrine. The wreath was laid on behalf of the Rotary Club of Warragul.
Warragul Rotarian Diane Carson presents a wreath at the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service
First Peoples have served in conflicts and peacekeeping missions involving Australia for more than a century. This is despite the fact that First Peoples were not allowed to enlist until the Second World War and their service was not recognised for many years.
This all changed in 2006, when Indigenous elder the late Aunty Dot Peters AM and retired RAAF Flight Sergeant Sam Halim - then president of Healesville RSL Sub-Branch - held the first Remembrance Service to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island soldiers.
The Service is now an annual Victorian event held during National Reconciliation Week.
Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service | Shrine of Remembrance