FOR Peter Burquest, Anzac Day is a chance to pay tribute to his fallen mates, but he’s disappointed he won’t be able to reflect on their heroism at the Caroline Springs memorial this year.
The Burnside resident and fellow Vietnam War veteran Murray Lewis were instrumental in establishing the township’s war memorial in 2010.
Mr Burquest had hoped to attend tomorrow’s dawn service at the memorial, but he said a lack of interest had forced its cancellation.
The 63-year-old expressed disappointment the memorial wasn’t being used for significant national events such as Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, and he called on residents, schools and community groups to get together and organise services at the memorial to mark both occasions.
“We are asking for people to commit to forming a team to at least deliver the Anzac message with a dawn service each year and a Remembrance Day service,” he said.
“I would love to see the bulk of this team come from a group of secondary students from schools within our area. We would also like to see service groups put together a team to organise their dedications.”
Mr Burquest joined the Australian armed forces in April 1967 and was sent to fight in Vietnam in March 1968 when he served as an infantryman for the First Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
He took part in the Battle of Coral-Balmoral operation in which 25 Australians died and about 100 were wounded.
“I lost some close mates and Anzac Day means a lot to me,” he said.
The Caroline Springs memorial also commemorates members of the emergency services.
Anybody interested in organising future services can phone Mr Burquest on 0411463414.
*As part of Fairfax Media’s Anzac Project, readers can pay tribute to fallen soldiers by sending through images to honour family members who gave their lives during the war.
