Special ceremonies were held at the weekend’s sporting contests across the region to commemorate the 108th anniversary of the first landings at Gallipoli in 1915.

A large crowd was in attendance for the Anzac Eve clash on Saturday at Kongorong but home team supporters would have gone home disappointed with the 31-point defeat at the hands of arch rivals Port MacDonnell.

The Anzac ceremony on the oval prior to the start of the A Grade football match was conducted by Mount Gambier RSL president Bob Sandow.

“We honour those who served our country and remember those like Private John Rogers that did not return,” Mr Sandow said.

Kongorong Football Club president Amanda Sealey was the master of ceremonies and the A Grade football and netball teams from both clubs took part along with umpires and club officials.

The national anthem was sung by Kongorong club member Mel Whitty while the Last Post was sounded on the trumpet by Millicent and Mount Gambier Salvation Army representative Tim Frost.

As in previous years, the words “lest we forget” were painted on the grass of the clubrooms flank.

After the final siren sounded, the family of fallen Vietnam War soldier John Rogers presented their annual Memorial Medal to Kongorong onballer Matt Cordy.

He was adjudged to be best-on-ground by field umpires Adam Maidment and Bruce McLaughlin and received the medal from his brothers Dougie McPhail and Donald Rogers.

Earlier in the day, they had conducted the coin toss which was won by new Port MacDonnell skipper Tim Sullivan.

Private Rogers was a local National Serviceman and he died of his wounds on active service in 1968.

His name is listed on a number of war memorials across the district at Kongorong, Port MacDonnell and Mount Gambier.