By TANIA PHILLIPS
SOME 100 years ago the young men of Tenterfield and across Australia answered the call and left our shores – many never to return.
At the weekend another group of men answered their own call – to remember and to keep the memory of those young men alive at an event which is expected to be the first of many for them in the next year or so.
Members of the 12th Light Horse, Major J.F. Thomas Troop (J.F. Thomas was the Tenterfield-based lawyer in the Boer War Breaker Morant case) were on-hand on Saturday as Tenterfield turned back the clock and remembered the events of almost 100 years ago.
Troop leader Vince Sherry said the group held a display and were part of a memorial service commemorating WWI on Saturday at the Tenterfield Showground.
The event was part of a commemorative Light Horse weekend organised by Deborah Lions and remembered the Tenterfield region’s strong connection with the Light Horse.
The weekend started with an art exhibition and complimentary cheese and wine tasting at the Banquet Hall of the School of Arts on Friday.
This exhibition, which is continuing, will feature works by Mr Basil Gay and his wife Wendy from Brisbane. The exhibition will host 15 artworks, all of which depict differing aspects of the Light Horse during wartime. Basil has, in his unique way, captured many of the emotions experienced by the men during that difficult time in our history.
The weekend also featured the display as well as a bush dance and church service.
Mr Sherry said the troop were expecting a big year next year as Australians commemorated Gallipoli, however things were already starting to build.
Later this month members of the troop will head to Brisbane to help re-enact the moment when troops first left this country to head overseas.
A parade will be held through the street of the city as part of the re-enactment.
Mr Sherry said next year they would also be part of the Tenterfield Show, which was holding its own commemoration of WWI and also Anzac Day as well as many other functions across the country.
