By Emma Xerri
More than six decades on and the Monbulk CWA continues to deliver on what has become one of the town’s most cherished Anzac traditions, and one which thankfully withstood the wind and rain earlier in the week.
Starting in 1959, the CWA’s floral Anzac display has become a staple for locals, who return to the Monbulk RSL each year to marvel at the colourful assortment of donated and locally sourced hydrangeas and dahlias which, now down to a science, only takes the members an astounding two and a half hours to arrange.
“I think it’s quite unique,” Monbulk CWA President Wendy Dennison said; an opinion she has more than earned after 18 years with the branch.
“I love the history of it, and we love being able to keep that history going.
“We also get so many compliments. Every year people stop and take photographs, and they always ask about the display if we haven’t put it up yet.
“Being a small community, I think everyone has grown up with it.”
Much like the Monbulk community who have grown attached to the display over the years, the display holds a personal connection as a well as a historical one for Wendy, whose husband is a returned soldier, and fellow CWA member Cheryl Elvey, who used to assist her mum with the display when she was a child.
“My grandfather was in World War I and my father was in World War II, so the RSL is something we’ve always been a part of as a family,” Cheryl said.
“My father was also President of the Monbulk RSL for many years, and they would always do this Anzac display.
“Now, it’s become a tradition that’s been handed down through the generations, and we’re hoping that some of the younger ones will step up, because we’re all getting old,” she laughed.
While the younger ones in her family haven’t taken to it quite yet, she’s “hoping that they will.”
“If they don’t step up, the tradition will peter out, which would be a shame.
“It’s our way of showing how much we appreciate everything our forefathers have done to get us to where we are today, and I’m very proud of it all.
“It’s really inspiring to know that you are doing something that everyone is proud of.
“It’s truly a beautiful thing.”
