Hall News April 24 #139

Hall News

MATCHAM PUBLIC HALL INC

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1915

Anzac Day Edition

Welcome to a special edition of The Hall News sharing our Anzac Day Brunch and Service. I’m Lois the new Editor of the Hall News just dipping my toes in for this edition but excited to bring you the next full version both printed & digital in July. Please get in touch if you would like to contribute or advertise in the next Hall News. Enjoy this snapshot of Anzac Day.

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At the going down of the sun we will remember

As I sat in the sunshine at the Hall on Anzac Day, I was struck by the symbolism of Anzac Day and how much meaning these symbols had for people.

A sprig of rosemary, blood-red poppies, the laying of a wreath, and the sound of the Last Post all instantly take us to a place of remembrance and reflection.

Here at the humble hall, they were on display and brought to life by people of this community, young a old. It also struck me how lucky we w to sit in the sunshine on Anzac Day one community – the greatest symbo all from the Anzacs.

Lest we forget.

“ ”

To me Anzac Day means Joy, busy-ness and service. It’s the coming together of locals, and it unites our local community, which is something I look forward to and really enjoy doing

Ken Gray President Matcham Hall Committee

A sprig of rosemary

Rosemary is an ancient symbol of fidelity and remembrance, so it's a fitting commemorative symbol to help us remember those who served.

Rosemary grows wild on the Gallipoli peninsula, where many Australians served in World War I. In the 1980s, cuttings of plants from Gallipoli were planted in nurseries throughout Australia to support the Avenues of Honour project. In fact, some of the rosemary shared from a local at our service came from the Gallipoli cuttings.

I didn't realise that the sprig I pinned close to my heart on the day had such significance.

I recently learned how to strike rosemary plantings at the Matcham Holgate Produce share and took a large piece home with me. Next year, I hope to share my rosemary harvest with everyone on Anzac Day.

The Last Post

There's nothing quite like the sound of the last post It is so distinctive. Traditionally, it marked the end of the military day However, in memorial services, the haunting melody symbolises that the dead's duty is over and that they can now rest in peace. On Anzac Day, it is followed by one or two minutes of silence, then a second bugle call. Our bugle was replaced by a saxophone and a very big thank you to Mark Bunyan on the sax and our flag raiser Kevin.

Welcome to Country

Local Resident and Biripi Man Brenden Moore led the Welcome to Country to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land. The Darkinjung People, the traditional custodians of the land on which we live here in the Valley.

A Welcome to Country can be just a speech, but it can also include singing, dancing, or a smoking ceremony.

Brenden puts his own unique flair into his Welcome to Country. He involved everyone, encouraging the group to recite the words after him. He then opened the Anzac Day Ceremony with a mesmerising performance on the didgeridoo. Thank you to Brenden, it was very special.

The Poppy

In Australia, the poppy is the flower of remembrance. The poppy reminds us of those who lost their lives or suffered in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. This tradition began in the early 1900s, after World War I.

At our Anzac ceremony, Vesta Harris read a poem about the meaning of the poppy. "I have no idea who wrote the poem, but I have always held onto it as it's such a beautiful poem; I thought it was time I shared it." said Vesta.

THE INQUISITIVE MIND OF A CHILD – JOHN

F WILCOCKS

Why are we selling poppies, Mother?

Selling poppies in town today?

The poppies, my child, are flowers of love

For the men who marched away.

But why have they chosen the poppy, Mother?

Why not a beautiful rose?

Because my child, men fought and died

In the fields where the poppy grows

But why are the poppies so red, mother

why are the poppies so red?

Red is the colour of the blood my child

The blood that our soldiers shed

The heart of the poppy is black, mother

Why does it have to be black

Black, my child, is the symbol of grief

For the men who never came back

But why mother dear, are you crying so

Your tears are like winter rain

My tears are tears for you my child

For the world is forgetting again

Lest we forget, Dare we forget

The laying of a Wreath

We often lay 'Anzac wreaths' as a way to remember those who have lost their lives serving Australia. An Anzac wreath is usually shaped like a teardrop, called a 'chaplet'. This shape signifies the tears that we shed in grief.

You can also use a simpler circular shape like the one made and laid by Meg McGowan. While Meg’s wreath was circular in shape, it was not simple. It was layered with meaning.

Meg shares the story of her wreath.

all will eventually. Wreaths are circular to symbolise the never-ending cycle of life and death. This wreath features Rosemary, a traditional symbol of remembrance because of the plant’s reputation for improving memory

Wattle and New Zealand Christmas Bush (Pōhatukawa) represent the Australian and New Zealand service men and women that made up the ANZAC forces, and Brown Plum Pine (Podocarpus) is featured to reflect this year’s Defence Force focus on the Indigenous service men and women that fought for Australia. Podocarpus is a traditional native food plant.

A single olive branch is included to represent our eternal hope for peace

The dahlias at the base of the wreath are red for the blood shed in armed conflicts and white for the innocent people who are always the casualties of war. White is also a colour associated with peace and surrender

The base of the wreath is Vetiver, a grass known for putting down deep roots. It represents community and in particular, those members of our own community that have lost their lives during armed conflicts

Wreaths laid in memoriam are traditionally made from living plants and flowers to remind us of the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death; the wreath will initially be vital and beautiful, but will fade over the following weeks until it returns to the earth, as we

As a whole, the wreath is meant to represent the deepest wish of all those that serve: that we may one day live in a world without war.

Lest we forget

Written by Meg McGowan

Anzac Biscuits

From the 1920s onwards, Australian recipe books nearly always included Anzac biscuits, but exactly how this recipe became associated with Anzac or the First World War is unknown. Well, does it really matter? They are delicious.

Thanks to Vesta Harris who made over 100 Anzacs for the Hall to share.

Anzac Biscuit Recipe

1 cup of each plain flour, coconut, sugar and rolled oats

125g butter

2 tablespoons golden syrup

2 tablespoons of hot water

1 ½ teaspoons of bi-carb soda

Put the butter and golden syrup in a very large bowl and melt it. Then add the water into the bi-carb and tip into the butter and golden syrup. Mix into the dry ingredients.

Pop in the oven 150-160 for 10-12 minutes. This recipe makes about 18. You cannot double the mixture.

VESTA’S HOT TIP – Put the mixture in fridge overnight

WarMemorials

In his book Sacred Places: War Memorials in the Australian Landscape, Ken Inglis presents more than 30 years of research on War Memorials. He says there are between 4-5,000 memorials in Australia. A number that is quite incredible.

While Ken has written a whole book about war memorials, Isabella Nealon, from Holgate Primary School, could teach him a thing or two about the Terrigal Foreshore War Memorial.

Isabella spoke like an expert well beyond her years Did you know that the Terrigal Foreshore War Memorial consists of two War Memorials: The Erina District (Armistice) War Memorial and The Terrigal War Memorial? The site has moved three times and relocated to the Terrigal Foreshore in 2018

Want to know more? Just ask Isabella.

While I love my great grand dad I hope in the future they find ways other than war

Melita O’Connell shared her family’s connection to Anzac Day “ ”

.

BeingofService

Anzac Day is a great reminder of what service means “doing something primarily for the benefit and goodwill of others”. And it is given without the expectation of anything in return. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the day possible. The organisers, the set-up team, tea-makers and those who stuck around to pack up, your service to this community is truly appreciated.

Thank You to Our Readers

Ken Grey

Ingrid Medlicott

Ian Medlicott

Neil Rechlin

Vesta Harris

Isabella Nealon

Malita O’Connell

Thankyou to our Sponsors

A big thank you to our local businesses, who generously donated to the brunch, especially locals Josh and Renee from VIP Private Chef, who cooked the BBQ for us all to enjoy.

The money raised from this event goes directly into the upkeep of the Matcham Public Hall. A local resident donated the land for the hall in 1915, and together, the community built the Hall to farewell and hopefully welcome the area's returned servicemen. Today, its purpose remains unchanged: to serve the community as a place to connect, commemorate and celebrate. A team of volunteers runs the Hall and Ken the President of the Hall summed it up perfectly...

“it’s pretty remarkable that this place has been run and looked after by local volunteers continuously for almost 110 years.”

ANZAC DAY SPONSORS

Stephen & Ingrid from Gittoes

Helix Dental

Sandra Miller Conveyancing

Kennedy Cross Accountants

Thankyou for our Silent Auction Donations

Wine Selectors

Drift Home & Living

Pharmacare

Cotton On HQ REVL Erina

Helix Dentistry

Unique Massage Therapy

Aspire Physiotherapy

Fires Creek Winery

Bee-u-tiful Honey

KFC – Sasha Raymond

Invictus Barbers

Distillery Botanica

BamVino

Robbos Mobile Mower Services

Bens Backyard

The Stretch Lab

Central Coast Flower Market

Gary & Ronel Williams

Cinta Fashions

Beautiful You by Lex

Bohemian Traders

The Ken Duncan Gallery

The Birdhouse Hair by Shevaun

Women Washing Windows

Kristy’s Cleaning

Simply Foliage

Graham Sharp Carpet Court

Emerald Clean

Alara Women’s Health

Petstock Erina

Vesta Harris

Keane Ceramics

The Wildflower Place

Please support those who support our community

ODE OF REMEMBRANCE

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM LEST WE FORGET