Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Local veterans continue to serve our communities and give back through the local RSL, volunteering their time to help other veterans and their families, advocating for support and ensuring our community never forgets their sacrifice. In Casey, we are fortunate to have many RSLs working to support local veterans and our wider community, including the Lilydale RSL, the Mount Evelyn RSL, the Upper Yarra RSL, the Warburton RSL, the Healesville RSL, the Yarra Glen RSL, the Monbulk RSL, the Dandenong Ranges RSL and the Upwey-Belgrave RSL. We also have the Seville War Memorial Committee. We are a tight-knit community that values the contribution of our veterans and our local RSL clubs, who work alongside our community groups and schools to ensure that those who served are never forgotten. On Remembrance Day, services were held right across our community, and I had the honour of attending the Mount Evelyn RSL service, where students from Birmingham Primary School, Mount Evelyn Christian School, Mount Evelyn Primary School, St Mary's Primary School and Yarra Hills Secondary College all paid their respects, delivered speeches and stopped to remember those we've lost. The Mount Evelyn RSL also held a heartfelt Remembrance Day service ahead of a cricket match at the Mount Evelyn Recreation Reserve. Thank you to the president, Matt Crymble, for organising these events for our community to pay their respects.

I also had the privilege of attending the Lilydale Primary School remembrance assembly, a great morning run by the students to pay their respects and remember those who served. I would like to thank the students and RSL representatives who laid wreaths on my behalf at other local services, including those at Yarra Glen, Lilydale, Seville, Wandin, Yarra Junction, Healesville, Monbulk, Warburton, Upwey-Belgrave, Sassafras, Montrose, Millgrove and Mooroolbark. Thank you to the local RSLs, Seville War Memorial Committee, Wandin Rotary, Millgrove Residents Action Group, the Mooroolbark History Group, and Max Lamb and the Montrose Township Group for organising these remembrance services for our community to pay their respects.

Many businesses in Lilydale, including my office, love seeing after Arthur, from the Lilydale RSL, drop in around Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, selling badges and pins to raise funds for the Anzac Appeal. He does the rounds every year to ensure we make a difference for veterans and their families. Initiatives like this play a crucial role in ensuring we never forget the sacrifices of those who serve our nation.

I recently had the honour of joining the Seville War Memorial Committee to remember local soldier and Victoria Cross recipient George Ingram VC MM. George called Seville home and was awarded the highest award for gallantry in battle during World War I as well as the Military Medal.

On the day, we unveiled two new commemorative benches for the Seville Memorial Park, generously donated by Community Bank Wandin-Seville as well as the new information board. I congratulate Seville War Memorial Committee chair Anthony McAleer for his ongoing commitment to preserving history and honouring locals who served. I also congratulate committee member Kim Parry for his research and design of the bench seats.

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