General News
14 November, 2025
Rainbow honours the fallen on Remembrance Day
The Rainbow community gathered at the Cenotaph on Tuesday morning to honour those who lost their lives in war with a Remembrance Day service organised by the Friends of Rainbow RSL.
President Peter Gosling said the community was well-supported by the event.
“Well, I thought it was by my standards well attended, as the entire P-12 school came down and took part in the ceremony,” he said.
“Apart from the school, there were maybe 40 to 50 onlookers in support as well.”
Community groups, including the Rainbow Scout Group and the local CFA branch, were also represented, alongside teachers and students from Rainbow P-12 College.
Mr Gosling said the ceremony included traditional elements of remembrance.
“There were four students - the two senior school captains among them, who recited Flanders Fields, which is a traditional poem,” he said.
“I laid a wreath on behalf of the Friends of RSL, followed by the junior P-12 students who laid one for the school, and then the scouts and CFA laid theirs.”
He said the service concluded with a minute’s silence and the playing of the Last Post and Reveille.
“I recited the Ode and played the Last Post and Reveille,” he said.
“While I did that, the flag was raised at half-mast - that sort of concludes the service.”
Mr Gosling reflected on the importance of continuing the ceremony for future generations.
“Well, that’s exactly the reason we do it,” he said.
“I think the older ones know, but the young ones aren’t really aware, as they don’t have any contact with wars, even going back to Vietnam.
“That’s why we encourage the school to be involved, to pass on the message that the suffering and sacrifices shouldn’t be forgotten.”
He said the Friends of Rainbow RSL remains an active volunteer group committed to keeping the tradition alive.
“None of us are service people, we’re all just volunteers now,” he said.
“We just need to remind the next generation of the sacrifices that have been made, and that’s the spirit that keeps the group going.”
At the conclusion of the service, Mr Gosling invited community members to attend the group’s annual meeting on November 24 at 7pm at the clubhouse.
“Anyone who would like to come along would be much appreciated,” he said.
“It’s important to give us a bit more support and keep the tradition alive here.”
As the community paused in reflection, Mr Gosling shared one final message.
“It’s ‘Lest We Forget’ - that means ‘let us not forget’, and that sums it up,” he said.
“Even though it was a long time ago, young people from this area went away and never came back, and the impact on their families and loved ones was terrible.”
