Digging in: Stanhope RSL secretary George Gemmill and Lesley Ould OAM, mother of Robgill Estate’s Brett Ould. She lives with her son and Mr Lansdown at Robgill
Stanhope’s historic Robgill Homestead has become the latest to join the district salute to the Anzacs with the planing of its own Lone Pine Tree.
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In recent times the estate has become a focus of the Stanhope community, hosting a reception for the Melbourne Cup visit and providing support for last year’s Christmas lights competition and Celebrate Stanhope Food and Wine event.
Homestead owners Brett Ould and Rick Lansdown were given the green light to plant an official Lone Pine by the Australian War Memorial and the tree for the commemoration came directly from Canberra’s Yarralumla Nursery.
The couple hosted an official planting of the tree in the gardens on Anzac Day (April 25), with Stanhope RSL secretary George Gemmell unveiling a brass plaque marking the occasion.
The evening was hosted by Stanhope RSL sub-branch president Phillip Chapman, with more than 60 guests attending
Mr Lansdown offered a brief history of Robgill Homestead and its connection to World War I.
There was a special poem read by Clive Toms, a prayer lead by Captain Jackie Targett from Kyabram Salvation Army and a reading of In Flanders Field, the ceremony concluding with the playing of TheLast Post by Lynton Targett.
The Australian Flag was donated to Robgill Homestead by the RSL and flew at half-mast before being raised by raised by George Gemmell, Val Maudsley and Lesley Ould.
After the official ceremony guests were greeted with sandwiches, sausages in bread and Anzac biscuits and lamingtons, accompanied with a glass of wine and a beer.
Planting the seed: Rick Landsdown and Brett Ould from Stanhope’s Robgill Estate with the Lone Pine Tree they planted on the grounds of the historic homestead last week.
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