Douglas Shire Council hosted the 97th Observance of Remembrance Day today at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front in 1918.

On the first anniversary of the armistice in 1919 two minutes’ silence was instituted as part of the main commemorative ceremony, which was proposed by Australian journalist Edward Honey.

After the end of the Second World War, the Australian and British governments changed the name to Remembrance Day.  Armistice Day was not longer an appropriate title for a day which would commemorate all war dead.

Four years later in 1997, Governor-General Sir William Deane issued a proclamation formally declaring 11 November to be Remembrance Day, urging all Australians to observe one minute’s silence at 11am on 11th November each year to remember those who died or suffered for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conflicts.

The proceedings were well attended and were officiated by Ron Savage the President RSL Mossman Sub-Branch with addresses by Mayor Julia Leu, Father Barry Patterson and Mossman State High School captains Bryce Lomas and Rachel Goodwin.

Morning tea was provided by Douglas Shire Council and prepared by Mossman State High School students.