At 11am on November 11, 2018, the guns fell silent in World War I.
It was a momentous occasion for what they called at the time “the war to end all wars’’.
Since then, Armistice Day is commemorated around the world as a stark reminder of the devastation and human loss that results from armed conflict.
The five Australian divisions involved in World War I suffered almost 48,000 casualties, including 12,000 dead.
A minute’s silence is observed 11am at every Remembrance Day ceremony, as a mark of respect for everyone who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In the Campbelltown local government area there are two Remembrance Day ceremonies every year, one in Mawson Park and another in the war memorial garden of Ingleburn RSL.
Mr Patrick O’Grady, the Ingleburn sub branch president was the MC for today’s ceremony, which was well attended by local residents.
The Reverend Richard Mills of the Denham Court Anglican Church recited the opening prayer.
Local student Rebecca Murphy from St Patrick’s College, the recipient of the NSW Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship in 2024, gave the commemorative address this morning.
Ms Murphy noted how a country with a small population, as Australia was in 2014, had made a large contribution to the war effort – but had also suffered substantial casualties.
As had Campbelltown, she reminded everyone in attendance this morning.
The official party included local MP Anoulack Chanthivong, pictured above, and Campbelltown deputy mayor Karen Hunt, along with director Jim Baldwin.
They all took turns to walk up to the war memorial and lay wreaths, as did representatives from local schools and other groups.
Mayor Darcy Lound was in attendance at the Mawson Park ceremony organised b the Campbelltown sub branch.
