Council commemorates local war heroes
Published on 23 April 2021
This Anzac Day the community will come together to reflect on the sacrifice and commitment of generations of young Australians, but it was the legacy of another young soldier that was at the forefront of people’s minds on Tuesday 20 April.
On the 51st anniversary of his death Burwood Council honoured the late Trooper Michael Tognolini in a special ceremony at the garden named in his memory.
Members of his family and regiment were on hand at the Michael Tognolini Peace Garden to lay wreaths and tell stories of the local Burwood boy who never made it home.
Trooper Tognolini was one of almost 50,000 young Australians who spent time in Vietnam during the war. Two thousand suffered injuries as a result of their service, while 520 made the ultimate sacrifice and would never return home including Tognolini who was killed at the tender age of 19.
Mayor John Faker said the poignant ceremony occurring so close to Anzac Day was an opportunity for the community to reflect on the sacrifices of Australian soldiers through time.
“Michael grew up in the Burwood area, was educated here, had family and friends here, and as we heard so elegantly he was a young man who was and is still truly loved,” said Cr Faker.
“Fifty-one years ago he was killed in the service of his country. Today we honour his memory and his sacrifice. Three decades ago the Michael Tognolini Peace Garden and memorial plaque were unveiled.
“This garden and these surrounds are to remember all those who gave their lives in the struggle for peace, and we should take comfort in the fact we have a special place to remember what Trooper Tognolini and the hundreds of other Burwood locals who went to war in foreign lands stood for,” Cr Faker concluded.