Pittwater Online News

Remembrance Day in Pittwater 2024: The Service Conducted by Avalon Beach RSL Sub-Branch

Remembrance Day Services were held across Pittwater on Monday November 11th 2024. 

At Avalon Beach RSL cenotaph there was standing room only. Elder Veterans of conflicts that occurred before some attending were born, were joined by members of local businesses, Legacy Widows and young children from Avalon Public school. 

Representing Mackellar MP Dr Sophie Scamps was Rebecca Clarke and Meredith Robinson, with another key staff member representing Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby. Cr. Rowie Dillon attended representing Mayor Sue Heins.

Pittwater MP Scruby attended an equally large Service at the Pittwater RSL Cenotaph, led by their Sub-Branch president Deborah Carter. 

A large contingent of students from local schools attended the Pittwater RSL Service, including students from Mona Vale Primary school, whose Honour Boards list almost 200 former students who have served Australia as Defence Service personnel since the school was inaugurated in 1906. 

Samantha Shaw led the hymns at Avalon. Prayers and Flag ceremonials were conducted by Avalon Ministers and Sub-Branch members.

Avalon Beach RSL Sub-Branch Vice President and former RAN Lieutenant Commander Tamara Sloper-Harding OAM conducted the Service and introduced the Guest Speaker, daughter of President Richard Menhinick RAN, and serving member of the RAN, Lieutenant Charlotte Menhinick.

Tamara Sloper Harding said in her introduction:

As our members know I’m constantly talking about welcoming the next generation of Service men and women to the RSL. It’s essential for the longevity of the League and in order for us to fulfil our Charter and purpose of looking after Veterans and their families. 

Our Sub-Branch is blessed to have a large number of contemporary Veterans and members in our membership. I’m of ten asked ‘where are they?’ at meetings and functions.

They are still serving our nation, they’re on Active Duty, deployed around the globe on land, air and sea. So what a wonderful connection they are for us to today’s ADF. They are perfectly placed to keep us abreast of current issues and challenges, and prepare us for the best ways to support our Veterans in the future.

Today we have the privilege to have one of them here to present the Remembrance Day Address. And I know that her father wishes he was here to introduce her.

Charlotte Menhinick was born and raised in Canberra. After her parents moved to the US for work she then attended Barker College in Sydney as a boarding student. This parting was good practice for her mother Michelle because Charlotte then joined the Royal Australian Navy for as a Gap Year Sailor in 2017.

On completion of Basic Training she then worked as a General Duties sailor in Cairns before applying successfully to be a Maritime Warfare Officer in 2018. She completed her training at HMAS Creswell and since then has served on a variety of ships. 

She gained her Bridge Watch Keeping Certificate at HMAS Watson in 2021 and then was posted to the guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart as an Officer of the Watch. 

During her two years on Hobart Charlotte consolidated her skills as a Maritime Warfare Officer. Her time at sea included two regional deployments in the vicinity of northeast Asia and the south China sea. So, you can only imagine what that was like.

She was posted to the Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour as an Operations Officer in mid-2023. In this role she is part of an amazing team of Royal Australian Navy officers and sailors, who are specially trained to sail a square-rigged tall ship and deliver a youth development program for young Australians. 

So ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Lieutenant Charlotte Menhinick.

Lieutenant Charlotte Menhinick:

I’m sure most of you know my dad, I’m Lieutenant Charlotte Menhinick, I’ve been a Naval Officer for 8 years and have sailed on multiple operations on numerous ships.

It is my privilege this morning to deliver your Remembrance Day Address.

Since Federation Australia has been called on many times to serve in operations and conflicts. They have served on o under the sea, on the land and in the air.

In August 1914 Britain declared war against Germany and Australia, following in her wake, joined soon after. The First World War is remembered on land, for its brutal trench warfare, the use of artillery and machine guns; at sea for the big fleets and the mass use of submarines to disrupt trade. And of course, in the air; combat occurred for the first time ever, with dog fights between fighters and bombers and massive civilian deaths.

Known as the Great War, it remains one of the deadliest conflicts in history. In just over 4 years 17 million people were dead. Amongst the lives lost were more than 60 thousand Australian service personnel. 

For a young nation, still fresh from Federation, the loss of life was devastating for every community.

The fighting stopped when an Armistice between the Allied countries and Germany came into effect at 11 o’clock on the morning of the 11th of November 1918. 

The momentous announcement that fighting was over on the Western Front caused joyful celebrations around Australia – but that joy was not universal. Too many had died, too many were wounded and made ill by their war service. There was a schism that ran through society, with numerous families having lost loved fathers, husbands and sons. Others were maimed physically and mentally scarred for life.

It was out of this conflict the RSL was resolved. 

In 1919 King George V called for two minutes silence at 11am on the 11th of November. At the appointed hour people around Australia gathered before local memorials and paused together in reflection to remember the dead, beginning a tradition that we honour still today.

On Remembrance Day we gather not to glorify war but to remind ourselves that we value who we are and the freedoms we possess, and to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who came before us. Those service men and women that contributed to shaping the identity we have as a nation, and those who continue to Serve.

In our modern world we are constantly confronted with devastating news about at any hour of the day. Some nights my phone will light up at 9pm, as I am getting ready to sleep, to politely inform me that Russia has dropped another bomb on a Ukrainian town or that tensions have once again escalated in the Middle East.

It is easy to grow apathetic in the face of an overwhelming barrage of bad news, but it is our duty to the fallen Australians, and the fallen Allies who have fought with us for over a century, to pause and honour them, and to not give into despair and apathy.

As my dad said last year; all of us here today are fortunate to live in a democratic country, where our government is decided at regular intervals via orderly ques of citizens, pieces of paper and a cardboard voting box. Not by guns, secret police or government terror. However, events in the world, and even some disgraceful behaviour recently at home, reminds us that a duty of being a citizen in a democratic country is to stay vigilant and to be active in the community; to ensure that those who wish to impose hatred, intolerance or violence on us are called out so that all in our society can live in harmony and peace in our beautiful land. 

The fact that we can enjoy a democracy sausage is due in large part to the sacrifices of those who have gone before us, who have fought against those who have fought and defeated those who sought to impose a totalitarian regime on us. 

We are fortunate to have access to quality education, where you have the right to learn and to speak freely and debate with your own ideas. We have unlimited access to news publications and the right to make up our own opinions based on what information is made available. These rights are held because those who have gone before us have fought those battles to ensure we have and keep these rights.

As I speak today, man and women of your Army, Navy and Air Force, decent everyday Australians with families and friends, are serving you, our country, and the cause of freedom here and all over the world. 

As I stand here today ships and submarines are serving, some in northeast Asia, as I was two years ago, ensuring the transport lines, such as freedom of navigation in international waters are maintained. We have pilots flying in international air space dong the same, and we have soldiers deployed across many regions of the world. 

Members of the Australian Defence Force are also diplomats, and beacons of hope of what it means to be Australian to people across the world. 

Australia beat England in the rugby yesterday; an amazing last minute breath-taking victory that the Wallabies managed to pull out for the ages and record books. [England vs Wallabies (37 - 42)]

But I wish to draw your attention to the pre-game ceremony; the Last Post, the Minute of Silence, the Reveille. There, in front of 80 thousand people, the collective sacrifice of two nations for freedom, liberty and humanity was honoured. There front and centre was an officer of the Australian Army, in full ceremonial dress and slouch hat carrying our flag alongside a comrade British Officer and their flag. 

This is showing what we are and why we have fought together for the world.

This is indicative of what the young Australians who serve today are doing for the world as part of our Defence Force do.

I think we are the same as those who have gone before us and take immense pride in how we serve. We have the memories and deeds of our forebears to look to and uphold.

This is the greatest country on earth, we just need to understand what makes it so great.

Together, as we remember 103 thousand dead Service Australians, and the Service of those who survived, and those who still Serve, take a moment to reflect on our country and how lucky we are to live in this place.

As you go back to your daily life, take a few minutes in your day to investigate the devices behind the divisive headline, to not give in to stereotypes, and seek to maintain a civilised dialogue in all our conversations with each other.

It is our duty to the fallen to care about our fellow Australians, to care about what is behind the stories people are trying to sell us, and to engage in our countries struggles in the world.

Thank you very much.

___________________________________

Red poppies adorned the Sydney Opera House and lit up Sydney Harbour this morning as the sun rose to mark the commencement of Remembrance Day.

Minister for Veterans David Harris hosted proceedings at the special sunrise service on the harbour. The RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge recited the Ode before the Last Post rang out as a reminder of the importance of the day. 

Large crowds gathered at the state’s Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place at 10:30am, as well as local memorials throughout our communities to honour the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel.

Today marks 106 years since the Armistice was signed, that brought an end to fighting in the First World War. Over 416,000 Australians enlisted for service during the Great War, out of a population of only 4 million. Many more defence personnel have fought in conflicts and peacekeeping operations since.

For more than a century, red poppies have been used as a symbol of community respect and recognition. Poppies have been projected onto the Opera House since 2014 and would light up the shells once again at 8pm that Remembrance Day 2024 night.

Schools across NSW received a resource pack from the NSW Office for Veterans Affairs with activities to educate the next generation on why Australians commemorate Remembrance Day each year.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“This Remembrance Day is an opportunity to reflect on those who bravely laid down their own lives to defend our country and preserve our way of life.

“It is important to acknowledge those who continue to serve in our defence, at home and abroad. There is no higher public service than offering your own life to protect your country.

“It is also crucial to recognise those who have lost a parent, child or family member in the defence our country.

“Australia’s free and democratic society is built upon the shoulders of these brave service personnel we are commemorating today.

“Lest we forget.”

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“Today we remember those who have given their lives and served their country in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions, and we also acknowledge the support of their families.

“We wear poppies on Remembrance Day to serve as a reminder for people here, and around the world, to take a moment and pause and remember our service men and women.

“I encourage everyone to observe the minute’s silence at 11am and remember those who have fought for our country. We owe them an immeasurable debt of gratitude for helping to make Australia the prosperous and free country it is today.”

RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge said:

“This Remembrance Day, we not only honour and remember all those who have died or suffered for Australia’s cause in all wars and conflicts, we also continue to reflect on the ongoing impact of military service on our veterans and their families.

"Following the conclusion of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, ex-service organisations now face 122 critical recommendations and RSL NSW will advocate for the implementation of these recommendations to support veterans across Australia.

“We must turn remembrance into action, ensuring every veteran across all generations feels supported, heard, and valued."

Some attendees of the 2024 Remembrance Day Service at Avalon Beach RSL Cenotaph run below.