Today is Anzac Day, 2018. 102 years after the photo above was taken, and my daughters 33rd birthday.
All are significant.
It seems to me that Anzac Day is a day when Australians can, for one day a year, have a common view about something, about where we came from.
On those beaches in Turkey were men from many nations fighting under the Australian flag for something they did not understand, had not expected, for which they would pay a very heavy price, and which would end in withdrawal rather than face defeat.
As a boy, it seemed to me that Anzac Day had had its day, there seemed to be little interest, beyond the blokes who had been there using it as a reason to catch up with mates, and keep the breweries solvent.
Many ex-servicemen however would not go anywhere near it, my father being one. He was in the Air Force, and did a bit of hiking in New Guinea keeping clandestine radar stations working in the humidity, and would not talk about any of it, and certainly did not want to be reminded every April 25.
In the mid 70’s I worked for Contiki as a courier on camping tours in Europe and Russia. While we went past Gallipoli on one of the tours, a stop was not on the itinerary, something I felt was wrong, so went there anyway. Very few of the 20 something’s on those tours knew anything about the campaign beyond the name, but the place is haunted, and by the time we had spent a bit of time wandering around the Lone Pine memorial, with me telling the few stories I knew, they were all infected.
Now Anzac Day has a renewed place in the Australian psyche, irrespective of your origins. I have friends born overseas who see it as a foundation of their commitment to their new country, and I doubt if there is a 20 something who cannot relate at least a bit of the history.
To my beautiful daughter, born into a lucky country on a significant day 33 years ago. She makes a contribution to the future of the place as a paediatric physiotherapist, by giving kids opportunities they would not otherwise have, a bit like those who landed on the beaches at Gallipoli, just somewhat less dangerous.
Happy birthday Jenn, and have a great Anzac day.
