Bacchus Marsh remembered its fallen fathers and sons as its marked the 100th anniversary of the planting of its world-famous Avenue of Honour.
With 281 majestic elm trees towering overhead, dignitaries, descendants and locals gathered for a ceremony and a march along the avenue to the RSL club where stories were swapped over tea and Anzac biscuits.
Bacchus Marsh RSL president Cherrison Lawton said the commemoration was in part the fulfilment of an oft-recited promise: “we will remember them”.
“They were all volunteers. They were not conscripted and it was an honour for them to sign on the line to be volunteers and they made the ultimate sacrifice,” she said.
”I think for society it’s really good to reflect … it’s a special milestone.”
In researching the history of the 281 men named along the avenue, it was found that one had actually died on August 10, 1918 – the day the avenue was planted.
