In the hush of a golden autumn morning, more than 300 small flags were carefully placed beside weathered headstones and newer plaques at cemeteries across Foster, Toora, and Welshpool. Each flag, whether bearing the Australian colours or the emblem of an allied nation, marks a life once lived in service to others. A quiet tribute. A powerful reminder.
At Foster Cemetery alone, 155 flags now flutter softly in the breeze, their gentle movement echoing the silent stories of those who once stood in uniform. Soldiers, sailors, nurses, and airmen—men and women who answered the call in times of war and peace alike. Their names etched in stone, their deeds carried forward by the living.
This moving act of remembrance was made possible through the dedication of the Foster RSL, the Foster Museum, and the Foster Cemetery Trust. Volunteers, both familiar and new to the district, joined together on April 15 to honour those who served. Among them were children, scouts and students from local schools—learning firsthand the importance of remembering.
The flags will remain in place for the fortnight surrounding Anzac Day, creating a landscape of quiet reflection. There are 99 flags at Toora. Another 50 at Welshpool. In all, 304 individuals remembered, not as statistics, but as members of a community that still carries their legacy forward.
This living tribute reminds us that remembrance is not confined to ceremonies or speeches. It is in the hands of those who stop to notice. It’s in the stories we pass on. And it is in the simple act of placing a flag by a grave, saying: We remember you. We are still grateful.
To every volunteer, whether student of Fish Creek and Toora Primary Schools and Foster Secondary College, the scouts of 1 st Fish Creek Scouts and the members of Foster and Fish Creek RSLs, who played a part, thank you. You’ve helped ensure that the legacy of our servicemen and women remains more than history. It remains personal.
