Solemn acts of remembrance, recollections of 1918, a galloping messenger on horseback and people dancing in the street: these were some of the ways Dorrigo celebrated the centenary of Armistice.
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The creative, day-long, commemoration began with an early morning combined service at St Stephen’s Anglican Church that included a hymn sung 100 years ago to the day in the same church for the same reasons.
Later, a crowd of 200 people formed a circle around the town’s monument and cheered loudly when told that the NSW government has no intention of moving the 97-year-old fully armed Digger from his pedestal in the centre of town.
The solemn service included a march by ex-service personnel, a colour party and flag bearer carrying the Australian red ensign, pipes and drummer and a Digger dressed in full combat gear of the Gallipoli period.
The names of Dorrigo men lost in WWI were read to the tolling of a bell and after The Last Post and Reveille the service was “interrupted” by a horseman galloping down the main street shouting: "The war’s over! The war’s over!”
This “news” was met with sustained applause and three cheers for peace.
The service ended with the playing (and singing) of the National Anthem (God Save the King) as it was at the end of the war.
After midday, part of Dorrigo’s main street was closed to traffic, tables were set up on the sidewalks and roadway and scores of people relived the street parties which followed Armistice Day, 1918.
Rosalie Walker took out the Best Dressed Lady award, and Bill Baggett, Dorrigo RSL Sub-Branch treasurer, was the Best Dressed Man.
Bellingen’s Big Band played through the afternoon and men and women took to the street dancing and celebrating.
The alcohol-free zone law was relaxed for two and a half hours and locals and visitors partied on.
