Victory In Europe Commemoration at The Shrine of Remembrance - 2025

 

This year's VE Day commemoration at The Shrine, Melbourne was a special occasion for many reasons.

The 8th of May 1945 heralded the end of WW2 in Europe and 80 years later, the Odd Bods presented a service to celebrate that occasion, and once again remember those who participated in WW2.

Immediate Past President Bruce Waxman gave the Occasional Speech with many references to Odd Bods, including John Ireland whose book "A Blue Orchid's Cooks Tour" helped explain some of the challenges our veterans faced on their return home. The transcript of Bruce's speech can be found here - A tribute to the Odd Bods and all RAAF aircrew who served our nation in the European theatre of WWII.

Colonel Catherine Carrigan, Deputy Chair of the Shrine and a Trustee was the MC for our service, and we were joined by Paule Ignatio, Consul General of France in Melbourne who laid a wreath at the Sanctuary's Stone of Remembrance. Many of our Odd Bods had a strong association with France including George Smith, John Ireland, Ron Fitch, Gerald McPherson, and others who received the Legion D'Honneur awarded by the French President for their WW2 service.

Mr. Bruce "Stretch" Jarvis, Chair of the Kindred Organisation & Unit Associations Forum at the RSL, was good enough to organise some additions to our service including a Piper, which along with a Bugler, added to the atmosphere within the close confines of the Shrine's Sanctuary. Our video below captures some of the atmosphere. Other organisations were represented including the Association of French Veterans in Victoria and the American Ex-Servicemen's Association.

We got to meet David Fraser, the newest member of our Association (in uniform in our photo), and his brother, Peter. And, as usual our presentation was excellent thanks to wreaths supplied by Jan Dimmick and Bruce Waxman. Jan's wreath featured in the Sanctuary and was then taken to the Odd Bods tree in the Shrine grounds.

It is particularly significant that the very first VE Day Pilgrimage in 1956 at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance was organised by a committee including a representative of the Odd Bods. Our continued involvement speaks volumes for our motto - "Pressing on ... Remembering".

A big thank you to our Association members, and the other organisations, particularly The Shrine itself, for helping make the "Remembering" such a success this year.

Video and photos:

  

 

The Last Post Done Differently

 

We are all familiar with the haunting tones of brass bugles as they deliver The Last Post at various commemoration services. While the bugle dominates official ceremonies, the last post has been presented on other instruments including the electric guitar.

The first solid case electric guitar was not launched commercially until the mid 1940's. It wasnt really on the radar of WW2 veterans.

Subsequent generations, of course, have become familiar with this unique instrument. "The electric guitar became the most important instrument in popular music. It has evolved into an instrument that is capable of a multitude of sounds and styles in genres ranging from pop and rock to folk to country music, blues and jazz. It served as a major component in the development of electric blues, rock and roll, rock music, heavy metal music and many other genres of music." - wikipedia.

Legendary guitarist Mark Knopfler once wrote a song called "Remembrance Day" and it is his hands that play in the following rendition of The Last Post. Enjoy 90 seconds of reflection by clicking on the video below.