50 members of Melbourne’s Hellenic RSL gathered on Sunday, February 11, at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat, Victoria for a special wreath-laying ceremony.Â
The event marked the 20th anniversary of the memorial, which was dedicated to Australian service men and women who suffered as prisoners of war.
Opened in Ballarat in 2004 by Governor Sir Peter Cosgrove, the Memorial was built as a tribute to over 35,000 Australian prisoners of war from the Boer War, World War I and II, and the Korean War, from 1940-1945.
The ceremony saw speeches from distinguished guests including His Excellency General David Hurley AC, DSC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Anthony Albanese, who was the first ever Australian Prime Minister to visit the Memorial.
Following the ceremony, attendees enjoyed a picnic lunch at the nearby beautiful Ballarat Park, where they reflected on the significance of the Memorial and the sacrifices it represents.
