Mayor Bill West praised this year’s festival theme of “Having a Voice”, saying it was a good approach for Cowra’s heritage.

“I think (the theme) is a tremendous approach to understanding and appreciating the unique heritage of our shire,” he said.

“Which has been made up of so many different strands, communities and groups over the centuries.

“While history is often a simple recounting of great movements, tragedies and in some cases triumphs of humanity, it is the voices of those who have lived in it, as to where we can find the true lesson of human experience,” he said.

A special feature of this year’s “Dawn at the Camp” was a tribute to the indigenous soldiers involved in the POW Camp and the Australian Armed Forces.

Cowra High School’s Jaylee Dunn gave the tribute and a special talk on Australia’s first commissioned Aboriginal Army officer, Reg Saunders.

“In the period 1941 to 1947 Cowra POW Camp saw members of local and regional Aboriginal communities assist at the camp in varying roles,” she said.

“Whilst it is possible to individually name all the servicemen we pay homage to the support, involvement and efforts of indigenous soldiers during the times of war not only at Cowra, but in Darwin, Broome, Cordoba, Europe and other battlefields throughout the world.

“It’s estimated that approximately 3000 indigenous Australians served in the regular armed forces during World War II even now it is impossible to know the exact number as Australian Defense Force enlistments forms did not allow for Aboriginal people to declare their heritage until 1980.

“Some 3000 others were employed as laborers performing vital tasks for the military including salvaging crashed aircraft, locating unexploded bombs, building roads, airfields and military facilities and assisting in the delivery of civil and military supplies,” she said.

Those attending the service also heard of the Italian, Indonesian, Korean and Japanese involvements in the Camp.