At 11am on November 11, 1918 the guns on the western front fell silent after more than four years of war. In November the Germans called for an armistice and accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender.  

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month became universally associated with the remembrance of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

It is a day on which all Australians gather to remember and reflect on the end of World War I, the war to end all wars.

Remembrance Day, 2018 holds a special significance to other years as it marks the 100^th anniversary of that historic signing. In 1918 bells rang out, people of all ages danced and cheered in the streets, shopkeepers stopped trading for a short time at 11am, all to celebrate peace after many years of war.

The service on Rocky Hill will commence at 10.30am and will involve cadets from both Goulburn’s Airforce and Army Cadet units.

​The RSL Sub-Branch is inviting all serving and ex-serving members of the Defence Force, relatives, friends and members of the general public to join them on Rocky Hill to remember and reflect on those who served and died, so we may live in peace.

As well as an official wreath laying, members of the public will be invited to lay wreaths and bunches of flowers in remembrance of family members who served and either died in the battle fields or have since passed away.

“On Remembrance Day in Goulburn, 2018 church bells will ring, and Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Bob Kirk Mayor will announce the ending of the war, as did his counterpart all those years ago,” Sub-Branch secretary Mal Ritchie said.

“I would like to ask all shopkeepers in Goulburn to cease trading for two minutes commencing at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, as they did in 1918.”

RSL Sub-Branch president Gordon Wade said on Friday they were still in the midst of organising the service however he had been informed that Goulburn Mulwaree Council would be restricting vehicular access to Rocky Hill on Sunday morning.

Only vehicles with specially issued permits or with disabled stickers would be allowed access to Memorial Drive.

 A shuttle bus will run from the car park at Carr Confoy Park from 9.45am, with the last bus leaving at 10.15am.

Following the service on Rocky Hill there will be a re-dedication of the Park Road Memorial Avenue.

In 1919, 70 Eucalypts were planted along Park Road to honour soldiers who attended East Goulburn School or who resided in East Goulburn when they enlisted for service in World War I.

An avenue of oak trees has been planted to recreate that original Avenue of Honour, and to recognise contributions within all theatres of war.

The event will take place at the rock wall, near Carr Confoy Park at 11.45am. The service will involve students from Goulburn East and other schools. Students are asked to dress in full school uniform and assemble with their school banners at the marked assembly point in the Carr Confoy grassed car parking area. Poppies will be supplied on the day for students. A free barbecue lunch will be supplied at the conclusion of the re-dedication, which is being coordinated by Goulburn Mulwaree Council.

Beginning at 2.15pm on Sunday, November 11 in the Old Sts Peter and Paul’s Cathedral a choir, orchestra, speakers and organist will provide an afternoon of music to commemorate  and reflect on the sacrifice by many thousands of Australians in World War One. 

Dr Paul Paviour said organisers had chosen a piece of music from each of the countries that took part in the conflict. 

“Not all the music is concerned with war, but is a selection of music which most people like and appreciate, thus showing that music and the arts can bring people together,” Dr Paviour said.

“One piece the choir will sing is based on words by Charles Bean, the official Australian war correspondent, written as he was waiting to leave Gallipoli in December 1915.

Entry fee is $20.

Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.