For many years, Rick Flanagan and Matt Morrison would rise before the sun on Anzac Day and sit underneath the flag at the Wyangala Country Club with only a radio for company.
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Yesterday, more than half the population of Wyangala turned out to see a permanent cenotaph unveiled where they once held their lonely morning vigil.
Built in the last two weeks by a team of local volunteers, the community-funded cenotaph is now ready for its first official dawn service next month.
Speaking at its consecration was Rick's son Nathan Flanagan. He said the cenotaph was fitting recognition of local servicemen and women and the timing was relevant, as a young Wyangala man had been deployed on a humanitarian mission to Vanuatu that morning.
"It's very humbling to be here because my service and my family's service in the past. The local area desperately needed a cenotaph to recognise the effort of the service men of this region for a long, long time so to actually see it come to fruition is a really great feeling," Mr Flanagan said.
Also speaking at its consecration was Major Ian Bruce, who said many cenotaphs began at places of community vigil.
"Cenotaphs began to be constructed shortly after World War I when the returning soldiers would gather with their mates to remember those who didn't return home. Towns would mark the occasion with dawn services, marches and eventually they began to build cenotaphs to remember those fallen," Major Bruce said.
It's especially poignant to remember that the majority of cenotaphs were funded, designed and built by local communities as a memorial to their local residents who had gone to war and not returned. It is therefore fitting that this memorial is the result of local residents raising funds [and seeking donations]."
NSW Agriculture minister and Member for Burrinjuck Katrina Hodgkinson helped Major Bruce to unveil the memorial.
She said the cenotaph does not glorify war, but praises the "strength of our national values and our patriotic and devoted local citizens".
"I'm delighted to be here for the culmination of hard work, for ingenuity, for passion and perseverance by such talented people," Ms Hodgkinson said.
"Today we remember the sacrifices made and the service given by so many to maintain the freedom that Australians enjoy and so often take for granted. This is a place of unity and understanding, where all are welcome to remember our local fallen and to share in our local perspective."
The community thanked Cowra Shire Council for their help with the project and Bunnings for supplying discounted building materials.
