5 minute read
The Voice of Commemoration
By Laura Thomas
When Squadron Leader Peter Meehan OAM (Retd) took the reins as emcee of the Anzac Day Dawn Service, he had a very important question for his predecessor Tony Charlton OAM.
“I said to Tony ‘If it’s bucketing with rain, surely I can use an umbrella.’
“Tony Charlton said ‘My boy, they didn’t have umbrellas at the Somme. So no, you will not be using an umbrella.’”
Luckily, there have been few occasions since his inaugural service where an umbrella would have proved handy.
From the Centenary to Covid commemorations, Peter has guided Victorians in commemoration at the Anzac Day Dawn Service for 11 years, and the Remembrance Day service for 29.
To recognise his exceptional dedication, Peter was this year awarded the Shrine of Remembrance Medal for meritorious service to the Shrine.
The Shrine Medal is awarded to an individual in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the advancement of community knowledge and understanding of the service and sacrifice of Victorians in war and peacekeeping – criteria that Peter has gone above and beyond in fulfilling.
Peter’s connection with the Defence Force began in 1990 when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve and was attached to No. 21 Squadron.
He deployed as media manager on numerous occasions to joint military operations and served during the International Peacekeeping Force East Timor period as media manager for the Royal Australian Regiment in 1999. Peter spent 25 years in the Reserves, and the last seven of these as editor of the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve newspaper.
During this time, he was also the voice of many a commute, following an extensive radio career that eventually saw him anchor programs at GOLD FM and 3AW Melbourne. This coincided with his first Remembrance Day service in 1992. His experience thus made him the perfect candidate to assume the position of Dawn Service emcee with endorsement from Tony Charlton, who was then one of Australia’s bestknown corporate speakers.
“When Tony knew that his health was not going to keep him in good stead, he insisted that I stick my hand up with his strongest recommendation to Major General David McLachlan [former RSL State President], to say that ‘I am the replacement. I’m not here to ask, I’m here to replace Tony Charlton’. These were Tony’s words,” Peter said.
“I was deeply flattered and deeply honoured with my appointment.
“So, when the time came, Tony said ‘Whatever you do, continue what I’ve been doing.’”
A key part of Tony’s concept was the Dawn Service Prelude, which Peter described as “short stories of heroism, bravery, unusual actions in the field of war … not very well publicised stories of what happened in the air, at sea, and during land battles.
“As Tony said to me once, ‘My boy, this is aimed to give those poor individuals standing in the rain something to listen to while they’re waiting for the Dawn Service to start’.
“I felt Tony was dead right. There needs to be this prelude event before the start of the Dawn Service, not only for people standing there but for people who are walking to the Shrine so they can hear heartfelt stories of bravery and sacrifice as they approach.
“It’s part of the collective gathering of hearts.”
For seven years, the Shrine’s Executive Assistant to the CEO Voula Gikas stood beside Peter at the Dawn Service to assist with commentary cues.
“Nervously hooked up to an earpiece, terrified I would miss a prompt, Peter instantly put me at ease by discussing how much he loves Greek cuisine. After a long chat about our favourite dishes, the prompt to commence the preamble arrived in my earpiece, which followed with a nod to Peter to begin,” Voula said.
“Instantaneously Peter switched to master-of-ceremonies mode, delivering a moving Dawn Service as he had in previous years and continued to in later years. This became a regular task for me on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day — one I looked forward to.
“I am honoured to have been given the opportunity to assist one of the finest presenters and play such a small part in Peter delivering Victoria’s major commemorative services. Peter is the essence of professionalism, integrity and above all else sincerity. Peter, for me, will always be the voice of Anzac Day and Remembrance Day — a sentiment shared by so many.”
Ceremonial Programs Manager Dale Capron also praised Peter’s ability to capture a crowd.
“I have known Peter since he started here in the Anzac Day MC position.
“During all those years I have worked closely with Peter. He is the consummate professional and an absolute gentleman to work with, and by the way, that voice! I could listen to Peter talk all day. He is by far the best MC I have worked with.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have met and worked with Peter and I consider him a personal friend.”
Peter stepped down from his post as MC of both major services in 2022, and for the first time in a decade, was a member of the Shrine crowd for the 2023 Dawn Service.
It was a bittersweet experience, with Peter leaving a key message for future services.
“It’s imperative that the Shrine of Remembrance remains important to younger demographic groups.
“The 1934 Shrine opening and the vision of remembrance set by General Sir John Monash. Could you ever imagine that falling away?
“No, but it’s up to the educators to find a way to make it interesting, no matter how sad, how terrible, how atrocious wars are and will always be.”
Laura Thomas is the Production Coordinator at the Shrine of Remembrance
