Anzac Day | Community turns out in force for Toolamba service

By Tyler Maher

Apr 25, 2023

Special guest: Peter Morritt at the Toolamba Anzac Day service. Photo by Djembe Archibald

Sunlight danced through the trees at the Toolamba Community Centre on Tuesday, leaving dappled shadows across the almost 100-strong crowd assembled to mark Anzac Day.

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The 10am service attracted members from all sections of the town, from Toolamba Primary School to hosts and organisers the Toolamba Lions Club, and everywhere in between.

John Calleja conducted the ceremony, which included readings from school captains Cassin Cook, Teagan Roberts and Ava Giles — with Lachlan Sorrigan laying a wreath on behalf of the school — performances from the Toolamba Community Choir, the Ode of Remembrance by Des Good and the Australian national anthem led by Mike Schulz.

Half-mast: Flags at the Toolamba Anzac Day service. Photo by Djembe Archibald

The highlight of the event was the attendance of guest speaker Peter Morritt — a Warrant Officer Class One currently serving in Canberra at the headquarters of the Royal Military College.

Mr Morritt, nephew of local John Morritt, spoke of his tours in Timor and Afghanistan across 30 years of service to his country.

“(Anzac Day) does give me a great sense of connection,” he said.

“My son is in the Army and my daughter is in the RAAF, and all of our family have been spread across the country in different roles.

Lest we forget: Wreaths at the Toolamba Anzac Day service. Photo by Djembe Archibald

“But when you leave your family to serve, you adopt a new family.

“The family that remains behind can not be forgotten either — the work they do behind the scenes when we are deployed is hard and it is an outstanding contribution as well.”

Mr Morritt also highlighted the great work of local organisations when it came to relief efforts across the globe and close to home.

“When you work with community clubs like the Lions Club, whether it be for bushfire or flood relief, or with through (the pandemic), you create everlasting connections,” he said.

“I’m proud to be here and I’m happy to serve my country.”