A Day of Reflection, Storytelling and Community at Treeview

On Tuesday 21 April, residents and guests gathered in the Lifestyle Centre at Treeview for an ANZAC Day service that felt both deeply personal and communally shared.

It was a full room with residents, staff and guest MP Paul Toole, surrounded by Australian and New Zealand flags, fresh rosemary and the quiet pride of medals worn. The service began with words from Treeview’s new Residents Committee Chairperson Kevin Morgan, followed by a prayer by the Reverend Brian Seers and the laying of wreaths. As The Last Post played, the room fell into a shared stillness.

A slideshow of Treeview veterans brought familiar faces and stories into focus. It wasn’t just about remembering the past, but recognising the lives and experiences that are part of this community every day.

Afterwards, rounds of two-up brought laughter and energy back into the room, an easy reminder that alongside remembrance sits connection and the importance of coming together.

Stories that live among us

For some residents, ANZAC Day carries a direct and personal meaning.

Kevin Morgan served in Vietnam as part of the 1st Field Squadron Engineers, known as the “Tunnel Rats.” At just 19 years old, he found himself navigating underground tunnel systems in one of the most dangerous roles of the conflict.

“You had to be courageous and focused,” he reflects. “It was one of the most nerve-wracking jobs imaginable.”

Like many who served, Kevin speaks not only of the danger, but of the camaraderie, of living, working and relying on one another in conditions that shaped him for life. He returned home, as he puts it, “a man,” carrying both the experience and the perspective it gave him.

Now, that same sense of contribution continues in a different way. Whether it’s driving the shopping bus, volunteering in the café, or supporting the wider community, Kevin and his wife Sheryl remain deeply engaged in life at Treeview, quietly embodying the idea of service in everyday ways.

1970/71 Trenches in front of Kevin’s tents at Nui Dat 

Len Price, another Treeview resident whose story remains an important part of our community, carried a very different but equally powerful story.

As a Leading Seaman in the Royal Australian Navy, Len survived the sinking of HMAS Voyager in 1964, the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Australia’s history. After a collision at sea, he found himself in dark, open water treading for 90 minutes before rescue arrived.

“It was a clear night with no moon,” he recalls. “We knew there might be sharks, but we were only thinking of rescue.”

Eighty-one lives were lost that night, including friends and colleagues. For Len, the memory remained vivid, not only of the night itself, but of the resilience required to continue on afterwards. He went on to serve for many more years, later building a life beyond the Navy, but carrying that experience with him.

Left: Shoot em up Port Phillip Bay From Voyager,  Right: 50 Call Training Gulf of Carpentaria 

Not all service stories are from the front line.

For Janet Dawkins, also a Treeview resident, the legacy of ANZAC lives through her mother, Gwen Stark. A pioneering member of the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force during World War II. Gwen dedicated years to aviation and service, eventually receiving an OBE for her contributions.

Her story is one of determination, independence, and quiet leadership, qualities that continue to shape Janet’s own approach to life. Today, Janet remains “on the go,” contributing to community life, volunteering and staying connected to the things she loves.

Gwen Stark in uniform

What ANZAC Day means at Treeview

At Treeview, ANZAC Day is not just observed. It is lived.

It lives in the stories residents carry. In the conversations shared over coffee. In the quiet understanding between people who have lived full, complex lives.

Events like this are not about formality, they are about creating space for reflection, honouring individual histories, and strengthening the sense of community that makes Treeview what it is.

And as the morning moved from stillness to conversation, from remembrance to connection, it was clear that this wasn’t just a service, it was a moment shared together.

Lest we forget.