General News
28 April, 2026
Family history focus at Dunolly’s service
Veterans, families and school children were among many who marched down Broadway on Saturday morning to honour the Anzac history of Dunolly, Bealiba and surrounding townships.
Well over 100 residents had already begun the day at the dawn service before later returning to Dunolly’s main road for the morning proceedings.
After pausing for the wreath laying at the Dunolly Memorial Pillar, the march finished at the RSL hall, with Dunolly’s Trail Horse riders following behind.
The hall was beyond full with well over 100 community members gathering at the commemorative ceremony lead by the Dunolly Bealiba RSL sub-branch president Richard Gale. Students and staff of Dunolly Primary School read poems and reflections about their ancestors and passing on Anzac memory to future generations.
The day’s guest speaker was Harold Lyndon, joined by his young son in sharing the memory of his grandfather, who he shares a name with.
“Born in St Arnaud, he lived here with his father, Henry William Lyndon, who was a miner here in the late 1800s into the 1900s,” he said.
“But Harold went away in the AIF here in Dunolly in 1915 ... he was away for 1340 days and he managed to get back here.”
He returned to Australia in January 1919.
“Soldiers couldn’t keep a diary, but he kept a diary for the whole period from the time he left here to the time he came back,” Mr Lyndon said.
“That diary is now at the Australian War Memorial, with a copy also given to the Dunolly Bealiba RSL sub-branch.”
Citing the quote on the front of the ceremony program, he said the phrase was much like the messages shared by his grandfather, following his experinces in the war.
“The first thing I saw in the Anzac Day reading here, is a reading really relevant to my grandfather, who went to war numerous times. But on one particular day, his best mate was killed. He lost his best mate. So it is quite symbolic,” he said.
“It reads ‘love one another, just as I love you. For the greatest love a person can give for his friend, is to give his life for them’.
“That is symbolic of why we are here today. Because a lot of people gave their lives for us to be here today, and made a lot of sacrifices. Families, mothers, fathers, and children who were waiting for their loved ones to come home from all wars.”
His grandfather went on to have five children, who also grew up in Dunolly, one of them being Mr Lyndon’s father.
“We need to keep this day alive. What we need to pass on to our kids is to educate them, and give them an understanding,” he said.
“They will tell their kids, and we will have Anzac Day 100 years from now.
“I’ve got my little fella here with me, and I’m going to tell him all of the stories. His name is also Henry William.”
The service was concluded outside the hall for the ode and the Last Post, followed by a minute silence.
Moved by the day’s turn out, the sub-branch credit the higher turn out this year to the significantly better weather, compared to last year.
However, the sub-branch’s secretary Lynn Gale praised the community’s support toward this year’s commemorations.
“We feel really supported well by the community. Community support has been fantastic regarding badge sales, and we are grateful everyone enjoys what we organise,” she said.
“The RSL is not just responsible for Anzac Day, it’s also the community. Nearby communities like Bealiba and Rheola don’t have RSLs, but they still have Anzac Day.”