Is its appeal being eroded by political correctness, commercialisation or that section of the community that treats this day as a” Party day”?

Is this what many people think or are we wrong?

Anzac Day will stir different emotions in us, sadness, pride, numbness or grief from the loss of a loved one.

The landings at Gallipoli were just over 100 years ago.

It was a failed campaign, there was a big loss of lives, it was poorly planned and, in some cases, poorly lead, and has made people question our involvement.

What was achieved on that day in 1915.

 

We all know this story, our troops land on a little beach in Turkey in the pre-dawn darkness of the 25^th of April. Our troops struggled from their boats, through water, over rocks and sand, they clamber up the hills, pushing their way through prickly bushes, in the dark and under gun fire.

Finally, being stopped at the top of the ridges that tower above their landing zone.

They would now endure 8 months of what can only be only be described as hell being pinned down in an area no bigger than 500 acres by a very determined Turkish army.

Poor food, little water, exposed to the elements while manning the trenches or living in crudely made holes dug into the side of hills.

Flies by the millions, disease and under constant gun fire, it was the determination, skill, courage and mateship that held our Anzacs together.

It was these actions and qualities on Gallipoli that propelled the name ANZAC onto the front pages of the newspapers at the time and was the topic of interest to many people.

But was this the beginning of the end of the ANZACs?

Were the deeds that were forged on that fatal shore going to continue?

 

3 years after we fought the Turks at Gallipoli we would be fighting the Germans on the Western Front and on the 25^th of April 1918 we would stop and recapture the town of Villers Bretonneux from the rampaging German Army.

A number of men who were involved were Gallipoli veterans and that day did not go unnoticed to them.

 

25^th of April 1941 saw Anzac troops being evacuated from Greece.

 

25^th April 1942 an exhausted group of RAAF pilots and ground crew of 75 squad prepare for another day of heavy combat to fight of an ever-increasing number of Jap aircraft trying to destroy Port Moresby and also their battered air field.

 

25^th of April 1951 saw Australian troops fighting in a desperate battle which was to help stop Chinese and North Korean troops from braking through the UNs front line during the Battle of Kapyong, Korea.

 

25^th of April 1975. The last Australians from the Australian Embassy in Saigon – including Ambassador Geoffrey Price – were evacuated by the RAAF.

Every year since 1916 we have gather together to commemorate the deeds and sacrifices made by our fore fathers on the 25^th of April, Anzac Day.

Their deeds have become legendry and are revered.

But as the years went by, their ranks got thinner and their deeds were slowly fading away.

It was only those men and women who had served in the armed forces that kept the Anzac spirit alive, albeit with small numbers.

What did the future have installed to help commemorate ANZAC Day?

 

Then in 1995 very thing changed, a resurgence in Australian military begun, we would be commemorating “Australia Remembers” It was the 50^th anniversary of the end of WW2.

It was in all forms of the media and more importantly, it was being taught in the schools.

We were now becoming more aware of what our men and women did for our country in its time of need.

The focus was on WW2 but in time this was expanded to the other conflicts like Korea and Vietnam.

The relevance of Anzac Day was growing and more and more people were getting interested in our military history.

Many people were now wanting to know more about family members who served in the armed forces and need for information was strong which was to help understand more about their loved ones.

 

In 2015 we commemorated the 100^th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.

We would see huge crowds attend Anzac Day services all around our country and at many locations overseas.

And they were not just our veterans, but their children and their grandchildren.

Our troops who are serving abroad would also conduct their own Anzac Day services.

From Iraq to Afghanistan and everywhere in between we commemorate this day.

Our service men and women, past and present have and will continue to serve our country with pride and we should recognise this in a meaningful way.

 

Is Anzac Day still relevant in our era?

As long as we have veterans amongst us to look to.

As long as our schools teach our students about our military heritage.

As long as we have historians who will pass on their knowledge in an informative and helpful way to all who are interested.

If we have these things I am very confident that Anzac Day will remain relevant into the future.

Thank you