Remembering the ANZACs

 ANZAC Day is one of those all important commemorations that appears on the annual calendar. Prior to ANZAC Day this year, they were going on about the amount of Australians who take part. As one person said, just because people aren't at services doesn't mean they don't take part in ANZAC Day and that many people probably do commemorate in their own way.

This year I yet again missed Dawn Service. This time I did set an alarm but it was not very nice weather out so I opted to go back to sleep instead. Instead I decided to commemorate the day in my own way.

(ANZAC Day last year)

Getting up so late I thought there was nothing wrong with eating ANZAC muffins for breakfast. Not exactly a Gunfire breakfast but tasty all the same.

Usually on ANZAC Day, before or after dawn service a Gunfire breakfast is something to take part in. Often it is a big breakfast of bacon, eggs and all the other bits and pieces. When I still lived down south we joined in after the dawn service and it was put on by the RSL at the pub. The Gunfire part is actually black coffee with rum in it. I believe the history of it is that it was given a dutch courage to soldiers in the morning before a battle.

This afternoon, as my way of commemorating, I decided to head to the monument at the cemetery. I had never been there and what I didn't realise is that there is actually a War Cemetery within the cemetery.

It was peaceful walking there among the old graves and the Cairns War Cemetery itself was a great place for reflection.

I looked at other old grave sites on my wander back to the car. I spotted a few of the other service burials around the cemetery.

I then headed down to the Cairns Esplanade to the Cenotaph. It is across the road from the RSL (Returned Services League). They were certainly busy there.

It was interesting seeing pretty much everyone who walked past stop to look, read, discuss and show their respect. 

Where the Cairns War Cemetery is a resting place for those who served in WWII the Cenotaph list the names of those who served in WWI.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest We Forget

Laurence Binyon

  

To me, this reflecting and being thankful for what those have done in the past brings peace. The feelings you have when attending, especially dawn service are indescribable. Whether I go to an ANZAC Service or not I still think on it and commemorate it, even if it is only in my thoughts.

More about ANZAC Day here

 

ANZAC Morning

Oops I slept in.

Okay, so maybe it was a little bit on purpose. The thing is I, on purpose, just didn't set an alarm.

I was still awake before sunrise though.

On Saturday last weekend, ANZAC Day, I had the idea of getting up and going to the Dawn Service on the Esplanade but by Friday night I was exhausted so figured I would wake if I woke.

As I drove down to the northern end of the Esplanade I listened to the service on the radio. On arrival I could hear the end of the service from where I was even though I was nowhere near where it was held.

As the sun rose I reflected and gave thanks. 

A red-ish sunrise for blood shed.

ANZAC Day is a day to celebrate our freedom and to reflect on the cost of that freedom. To be thankful to the armed services and to those who came before us. To think of those who served in the past and who serve now.

ANZAC is an acronym it stands for

Australian

and

New

Zealand

Army

Corps

It was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand forces and became a name to take pride in.

ANZAC Day is held on the 25th of April every year. 

It is the anniversary of the ANZACs landing at Gallipoli in 1915.

More than eight thousand Australian troops died in the Gallipoli campaign and it lasted for eight months. Troops ended up being withdrawn and since then the term ANZAC has been associated with perseverance, mateship, putting yourself before others, ingenuity, bravery and so many other traits. It left us with the ANZAC legend.

It had a huge impact on Australians hence it becoming one of the most important dates to be observed in Australia.

Although last year was the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of WW1, this year was the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and the anniversary of Australia and New Zealand's involvement. You could say it was a pretty big thing with a very big lead up.

History was recapped and celebrated on t.v in the lead up and coins could be collected. As a child I recall the importance that was placed on ANZAC Day and the learning we did. Also the ANZAC essay competition (upper primary grades) and colouring competition (lower primary grades) we would all take part in that were judged by the local RSL. Men I grew up knowing and respecting.

I have been attending ANZAC services since I can remember and I enjoy the peace and reflection that dawn service brings. It really makes you feel the importance of the occasion. I've always enjoyed it more than the parade during the day although the importance and solemn but celebratory mood of the parade and service can be very infectious.

I did go and look at the cenotaph and saw the very cute crochet poppies wrapped around trees. People were spreading out and those walking past were stopping to look and possibly pay their respects. So many hold respect for this day because so many have family history connected to it.

'With the going down of the sun,

and in the morning,

we will remember them.

Lest We Forget.'

 

You can find more about ANZAC Day here.