Giving the commemorative address at day break, Captain Stephen Bowater of the Royal Australian Navy reflected on the very young men, some not yet shaving, and women fresh from nursing schools, who were faced with terrible trauma and death on the battlefields of the international World Wars.  

“Some young men went to war out of a sense of adventure and some because they wanted to to join older relations. But most, young as they were, also understood that the future would be dark indeed for the generation of Australians unless they stood up to tyranny and defeated it, even at the risk of their lives,” he said.

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He shared the story of a valiant 18-year-old seaman who, though mortally wounded, rowed with hands burned to the bone to help his crew members escape their torpedoed ship. He later died of his wounds.

“At our dawn service here in Lithgow the Last Post will sound for them all. Lest we forget,” he said.

Lithgow Uniting Church’s Norm McFarlane said it the 20th century saw wars fought somewhere every year, with the new century following the same pattern. It was one he said he looked forward to seeing changed.  

“I look at my grandkids and I am able to thank God that they have not had to fight because of the peace that we enjoy. The peace that was won for us because of the sacrifice of previous generations,” he said.  

“So as we gather this morning in this peaceful place to pay tribute to those who fought so valiantly, to bring us the peace we enjoy here in Australia, we do so in the hope that someday, someday soon, there will be true peace on Earth.”