A Village Remembers

A Village Remembers

A Dream of a 'Village'

 

‘For many urban dwellers, the word that best captures the idea of a supportive, cohesive community is that charming word ‘village’. We sometimes indulge in lush fantasies about a village where, because of the very nature of the place, our life’s dreams might come true:’

Hugh Mackay The Art of Belonging

A village in Australia that is close to where we now live is called Emerald. This is a wonderful name for a place under the trees in the Dandenong Ranges. This is a quaint village, a tourist site, as it provides one of the stops along the route taken by Puffing Billy - a steam train that runs through the forest and farmland from Belgrave to Gembrook.

An Historic Celebration

 

A walkway and a statue were recently constructed in Emerald by the RSL, Rotary, and local councils, commemorating local men who went to fight in the World War 1. Thirty-two of these men did not return to families living in this village. 

The Governor General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove, was there to open this site. He arrived on Puffing Billy, and descended to be met by a guard of honor of soldiers dressed in WW1 uniform, and by many locals dressed in the costume of that era.

It seemed like the whole population turned up. It was a great event for a little village. There was an army band, a group of WW1 nurses and a couple of mounted WW1 soldiers, all in appropriate costume. And to cap it all three planes, the Roulettes’, made sweeps over the site at the beginning and end of the ceremony.

 

A Secure Village

Not long ago I’d had travelled to another spot in Australian, to the city of Adelaide in South Australia, to attend a Writers Festival. This festival is one of the best of all writers’ festivals in Australia. The weather is guaranteed sunny, and it is a free event. While there one of the sessions I attended was by the author Hugh Mackay. He talked about his recent book, The Art of Belonging, and afterwards I bought a copy.

‘In most of the important ways, the dream of village life is really a dream about security – both physical (‘I’m safe here’) and emotional (‘I belong here’).’

Hugh Mackay The Art of Belonging

Living in the Dandenongs is not always seen as a wise choice by folk who live in the city. They only see the large trees, and they think that to live there is dangerous because of the summer bush fires. And yes, there are precautions you have to take living here in the forest.

However, seeing the commemorative event in Emerald got me thinking about Mackay’s comment that what we want from a local ‘village’ is a feeling of security. You could think that an event that is secured by soldiers might be telling you that this is what is offered here – even if the soldiers are mostly dressed in WW1 costumes! 

However the fact that this village is well organized, with a police force, firemen, an ambulance, doctors etc. is really what makes me feel that this is not only a leafy haven but also a safe place to live.

Plus the Extra Bonus of History

And as for that Gallipoli get-together, and Puffing Billy, well those things are decorative extras, adding to the richness of life in this forest village.

‘Any community we belong to – any setting where we gradually come to feel ‘at home’ – will make a rich contribution to the story of who we are.’

Hugh Mackay The Art of Belonging

We will be in Lemnos for Anzac Day. 

Some the young men from Emerald would have landed on the island of Lemnos, perhaps wounded and brought there from Gallipoli to one of the tent hospitals set up around the bay of Moudros. There will be commemorative services held in Gallipoli on April 25. I wonder if there will be any commemorative celebrations on the island? I will be ready to post them if there are.