Special guest: At last week’s Kyabram Legacy Lone Pine ceremony was 95-year-old Warramunda resident Elwyn Drysdale, whose husband “Lone Pine Bob” Drysdale instigated of establishment the two aleppo pines on the grounds of Kyabam P-12 College and St Augustine’s College. She is with college captains Stevie Child and Miller Griffiths and the miniature pines they were presented with at one of two Kyabram ceremonies last week.
Lone Pine descendent: Greg Ross’ great grandfather, Charles William Ross, served in the 23rd Battalion at Lone Pine. He later served on the Western Front in Europe before being injured in a gas attack and recovering in the United Kingdom. The experience didn’t prevent him from enlisting for the Seocnd World War and serving in Australia. Greg served with the army reserve in the Northern Territory in the early 1990s.
Scholarship student: Kyabram Legacy president Don Cook, with St Augustine’s College Spirit of Anzac Scholarship recipient Keelee Smith (guest speaker at the lone pine ceremony) and Legacy secretary Gavon Armstrong in front of the lone pine on the college grounds.
Spirits of the Anzacs: Sarah Mott and Izayiah Ryan lead the St Augustine’s College choir, with support from Loretta Shannon and Brendan Lane, to close the first of two lone pine ceremonies.
College connection: Kyabram Legacy has a 22-year-connection with St Augustine’s College through the Lone Pine project. Student Hannah Messenger was among several guest speakers at the event.
Indigenous recognition: Year 8 college student Joanna Parr and Kyabram Legacy secretary Gavon Armstrong honour the Indigenous soldiers who have served Australia.
Proud Australians: St Augustine’s College choir sang several songs of national significance with obvious enthusiasm.
Two Aleppo pines planted as seedlings on the grounds of St Augustine’s College and Kyabram P-12 College more than two decades ago have been described as Kyabram’s two most important trees.
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Gavon Armstrong, secretary of Kyabram’s Legacy organisation, made the revelation during ceremonies last week at the two schools — the first Lone Pine ceremonies after the past two years were cancelled because of COVID.
“Twelve months ago Kylie Morrissey (St Augustine’s College vice principal) were two days away from the ceremony, after putting in 12 months of planning, when the event was cancelled.
“She has done a fantastic job organising this year’s event,” he said, in front of recently elected Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell, and Campaspe Shire Councillor John Zobec.
“We don’t have all that many significant trees in Kyabram, but these two are certainly among those.
“Kyabram is not all that old; we have some nice native trees, but these are among our most important,” she said.
The original Aleppo pine, a descendent of the famous lone pine that stands on the Turkish battleground where a six-day battle ensued between Anzac forces and Ottoman Empire soldiers, was planted at Kyabram P-12 in 1999.
The Battle of Lone Pine began at 5.30pm on August 6, a diversionary attack to draw Ottoman attention away from the main assaults being conducted by British, Indian and New Zealand troops in the historic move known as the August Offensive.
There were 2300 Anzacs killed or injured and 6000 Turks suffered the same fate.
A year after the initial Kyabram College tree was planted, the St Augustine’s lone pine became the second tribute in the town, planted alongside the college parish.
Kyabram Legacy has a 61-year history and has 22 legatees involved in voluntarily assisting the widows and children of serviceman who died in the service of Australia.
Support is extended to 50 widows in Kyabram, Tongala, Stanhope, Girgarre and Merrigum.
Legacy will next year commemorate its 100th anniversary by staging a torch relay, which will start in the United Kingdom and make its way to Australia in September.
Mr Amstrong said the torch would include a Shepparton leg of its journery, where a legatee and widow of the Kyabram region would be invited to participate.
He explained the history of the Kyabram lone pines, which were the brainchild of former legatee, the late Bob Drysdale (known as Lone Pine Bob).
The trees are reflective of those who lost their lives in the service of their country, from World War I up to the most recent conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan — along with the many peacekeeping missions.
“The tree is designed to keep the Anzac spirit alive,” Mr Armstrong said.
Kyabram bush poet Graeme Watt was asked to write a poem to coincide with the original planting of the lone pine at Kyabram P-12 College.
The poem, written 23 years ago, was read at the ceremony by John Lilford, who also placed the wreath at the base of the pine tree with St Augustine’s College scholarship recipient Keelee Smith.
She was among several college students involved in the ceremony, which featured several songs from the college choir and solo performances by Year 4 student Jasmine Grima, along with senior students Izayiah Ryan and Sarah Mott.
Year 8 student Joanna Parr made the acknowledgement to Indigenous soldiers, while Dylan Priest and Hannah Messenger also made presentations.
At Kyabram P-12 College school captains Miller Griffiths and Stevie Child were among seven recipients of miniature lone pines, along with guest speaker Shuane Clancy, teacher Greg Ross (who laid the wreath in memory of his great grandfather) and primary school captains Sophie McDonald, Maddison Saunders, Kaitlyn Munroe, Ruby Thompson and Sophie Moore.
Shaune Clancy is a former Kyabram student whose wife Linda is now employed at the college.
He spent several stints serving as a communications expert with the Australian army in Afghanistan.
He enlisted in 2005, was posted to Brisbane in 2008 and two years later in September 2010 was deployed to Afghanistan, providing communications for Australian soldiers and assisting in the establishment of a training base for the Afghan army.
In 2013 he discharged to spend time with his family.
Kyabram Legacy president Don Cook said the guardianship role of the college to the pine, and college principal Jay Sutton accepted the role offered by Mr Cook.
Legatees Graeme James, Stan McIntosh and Stuart Austin were also involved in the ceremony.
“The support we get from the schools is outstanding.”
“We are firmly committed to continuing the role we play in the community. There wouldn’t be a family in the district that was not affected by the world wars in some way.
“We remember the sacrifices made by those families,” he said.
Proud daughter: Maryann Bell-Shaw presents Legatee Graeme James with a portrait of her late father, David. He served at Tobruk, in New Guinea and the Middle East — including at El Alamein — with Australia’s Anzac forces. He died in 2018 as a 97-year-old, having lived much of his life on his farm at Stanhope.
Flag-raising: Kyabram Legacy’s Gwen James with Kyabram P-12 College primary captains Ruby Thompson, Sophie McDonald, Kaitlyn Munroe, Sophie Moore and Maddison Saunders.
Thanks for your service: Ivy Curling and Dougie McCready present Kyabram Legacy’s Lone Pine guest speaker Shaune Clancy with his certificate and miniature lone pine.
Prep presentation: Sophie McDonald receives her lone pine and certificate from Kyabram P-12 College Prep student Zarli Busch.
Continuing the tradition: Since the first Lone Pine ceremony was held 24 years ago there has always been a member of the Drysdale family at the Kyabram Legacy ceremony. Ninety five-year-old Warramunda resident Elwyn Drysdale was at last week’s ceremony, supported by her grand daughter Lisa Drysdale. Her son Greg and his wife Judy were also at the event.
P-12 poet: Tom Duckworth was among three Kyabram P-12 College students to present poems. The others were Vika Yarygin and Taylor Quinlan.
St Augustine's singers: Several well-known, and distinctly Australian, songs were delivered by the college choir in perfect conditions last week.
Returned serviceman: Kyabram army veteran Shaune Clancy was one of the guest speakers engaged by the Legacy group to share his story during last week’s commemoration.
Pine time: Isla Coombs presents Greg Ross, who laid the wreath at the lone pine ceremony, with his certificate and gift.
