Fallen mates remembered at Shepparton dawn service

Each had their own story.

Most were known to him.

The first three died during Sgt Cale’s first three combat patrols in Afghanistan in 2007.

By then he had started to feel a superstition he said many soldiers understood, but rarely spoke about – superstition.

But more was still to come.

The third of those who died, Private Luke Worsley, wore a Tag Heur watch and Sgt Hale had never seen one of those before.

After seeing Private Worsley’s, he bought one the same.

It is now a reminder of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Sgt Cale spoke of being responsible for the funeral guard of honour for another of those killed in 2008 – Lance Corporal Jason Marks.

“I will never forget the grief on his family’s faces,” he said.

Sgt Cale also spoke of farewelling several other soldiers he had personally trained or worked with as they left Australia for Afghanistan, and wishing them luck.

Men who had become mates.

Men who did not come home from that war.

One was his close friend, Commando Sergeant Brett Woods, another his mate Sergeant Todd Langley.

To Sgt Cale, they weren’t just names on an honour board. They were people he knew.

“This is the first time I have stood and spoken these names out loud like this,” he told the crowd at the dawn service.

“Men I knew.

“Men I trained.

“Men I served with.

“Men I called friends.

“All killed serving their country.”

The crowd at the dawn service were silent as Sgt Cale told of his Afghanistan reflections.

A time of huge loss, not only for the Australian Defence Force, but for him as well.

It was a powerful speech.

Thousands had again turned out to stand in the darkness and watch as the day broke over the cenotaph and remember those who had gone before them.

Shepparton RSL sub-branch president Bob Wilkie spoke of how Anzac Day was not a day to celebrate war, rather as a commemoration of those who had fought and died.

We pay homage to those original Anzacs who died in service and those who have fought and died since, Mr Wilkie said.

As the sun rose, and a volley of gunshots rang out after a minute’s silence, the true extent of the crowd at the service was able to be seen.

They filled the Shepparton Cenotaph, as well as spilling out in Welsford and Fryers Sts.

Among them were veterans who are now well in their 70s and 80s.

They were also joined by plenty of much younger faces, who were quietly, but proudly wearing their own medals from more recent Australian Defence Force service.

Others wore medals belonging to family members in quiet remembrance of them.

Some were family members of these veterans.

But most came because they wanted to remember and honour those who fought and died for their country.