When you've stared death in the face in war, not much can faze you.
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Fred Cullen, 95, proudly led Ivanhoe RSL's Anzac service on Sunday, just two days after his beloved club house was gutted by fire.
War veterans, widows, families, students, politicians and community groups marched from Ivanhoe Library to the local cenotaph on Upper Heidelberg Road, 50 metres from the ruin.
Prayers were said, hymns sung, the Last Post was sounded, and wreaths were laid under the stone documenting 47 Ivanhoe men who died in World War I.
Ivanhoe RSL vice-president Dino De Marchi told the crowd: "Our beautiful building has been severely damaged, however the spirit of Anzac and the RSL has not been damaged. In fact it has gained more community support, and soon I'm sure we will commence rebuilding."
Before the service, Mr Cullen, the branch president, said he felt "pulled apart a little bit" from working two days to salvage documents and artefacts, taking calls and organising the event.
But he wouldn't admit to tears as he was bombarded with well wishes on Sunday. "A tear duct problem," he quipped.
But he's seen worse. In May 1944, Mr Cullen suffered a cracked skull when a Japanese bullet tore through his slouch hat while he was serving with the 4th Australian Field Regiment in New Guinea.
His father and eight uncles had served in World War I. To say that after World War II, Mr Cullen became a stalwart of Ivanhoe RSL is an understatement.
He was a committee man when the club bought the beautiful Queen Anne-style mansion "Clairvue" in Studley Road in 1951.
Mr Cullen has been its branch president since 1974 and as a welfare officer, he ha advocated for countless veterans' rights.
He was at the club every day, before the fire. His late wife said he was "married to the RSL". He kept food there for when he was doing late-night paper work.
He was upset when the mansion went up in flames early on Friday, but he said offers from community members to help had been overwhelming.
Army veteran Michael Morrissey drove from Box Hill to transport Mr Cullen during the march. He said diggers such as Mr Cullen were a "pretty tenacious old bunch".
"They did it a lot tougher than I think soldiers do today," he said.
Mr Cullen had been determined Sunday's service would go ahead.
"It's too important an event," he said. "Not only for Ivanhoe but we'd be letting down all those 102,000 Australians who gave their lives [in war]."
