In the lead up to one of Australia’s most important days of remembrance and respect, Northern Health in Bundoora held its own annual Anzac service.
Northern Health’s ANZAC Day Service has been closely associated with patients for over a decade, particularly those at Bundoora Centre.
The service provides an opportunity for staff, patients and members of the community, to gather and remember, reflect and pay tribute to those who made great sacrifices to make the country a safer place.
The service opened with a mounting of the Catafalque Party from the 138th Signal Squadron, Simpsons Barracks, before chief nursing and midwifery officer Lisa Cox, and associate professor Jason Cirone, chief allied health officer, commenced the ceremony.
“On 25 April, 1915, Gallipoli was the site of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War,” said Mr Cirone.
“Today, we remember and honour the 60,000 Australians who were killed and 156,000 wounded or taken prisoner in that war. We also remember over 800 Aboriginal Australians who landed at
Gallipoli, 13 of whom were killed in action.
“We also remember the more than 3,000 Australian civilian nurses who volunteered for active service in the First World War.”
Members of the local community were also in attendance, including Bundoora MP Colin Brooks.
The Northern Health Community Choir, sponsored by Northern Health Foundation, sang a moving rendition of The Lord’s Prayer during the service.
Over 80 students from St Damian’s Primary School and Northside Christian College also attended, singing the Australian National Anthem, along with other local classics, such as Give Me a Home Among the Gum Trees.
