Untitled Document

Remembrance Parade Service - Cenotaph Kings Park, Perth

A letter from Garth Pienaar, Regional Chairman, SAMVOA WA, after a Remembrance Day service in Perth.

The West Australian Branch of the South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia laid a wreath in remembrance to those who paid the supreme sacrifice during military action.

The following Veterans attended the parade; Kevin van der Mescht and Peter Colvin in back row and Kenny Currin, Michael Lord, Mark Coldrey and John McCrum in the front row.

My sincere appreciation to Kevin van der Mescht, who stood in for the Regional Chairman and did a stirling job on behalf of SAMVOA Western Australia. Well done, you all did us proud.

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It was with a sense of pride and honour that I arrived at Kings Park on Saturday morning the 11 th November 2006. Pride as, as member of SAMVOA, I was representing all of South Africa’s ex service men and woman that had served in all arenas from the early 1900’s. Honour, as I had been provided the task of laying a wreath on behalf of SAMVOA to recognise their effort, achievement and sacrifice made.

I met with the other members of SAMVOA attending and stood around chatting whilst keeping an ever watchful eye on the Flame of Remembrance wardens who were as busy as, organising the participants (Wreath layers) into order. Finally it was time for SAMVOA to be placed in the formation. I bid farewell to my partner and our members attending and took my place. Whilst waiting in formation to enter the Memorial, I was welcomed and had the opportunity to meet some of the gentlemen around me and listen to the banter of lifelong friends that had shared and seen so much. A sense of camaraderie prevailed and it was not long before I was asked about SAMVOA, where I had served and why the organisation had been formed.

It was not long after this that we were called to order and marched off in four’s splitting into two’s to the left and right of the Memorial as the formation entered. The formation had a brief halt whilst two RAA Air force fighter jets flew over at approximately 11am. Soon after the paired participants started entering from the left and right and in turn, each placed their wreaths either on the surrounds of the Flame of Remembrance or at its base. I acknowledged all sacrifices made with a salute and joined the other participants on the outer circumference of the memorial for the rest of the ceremony until completion.

Thank you for entrusting in me the responsibility of representing SAMVOA on such an important occasion

The below photographs show Veteran Kevin van der Mescht carrying the wreath and saluting our Fallen.

South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia

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