The 25th of April in Australia is ANZAC Day. For me it has always been one of the most important days on the Australian calendar. That's because it acknowledges our history and the sacrifices many have made over time so that we can enjoy the peace, freedom and prosperity that we do today. This year it was a beautiful warm Autumn Day and it was serene yet also an emotional day for many.
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In small towns around Australia the day often starts with a Dawn Service, though with 2 small kids I haven’t attended one of those in a while so instead we participate in the Street March which goes down the main street of our town. There aren’t many old Diggers left to march, though a few ride in old classic cars at the front of the march while the civilians line the streets and applaud. The local school gets involved to support and my kids march at the back with the school. They are starting to understand what it’s all about but they are still very young.
Everyone tails in behind the march as we gather at the local Memorial for a service of Remembrance. I’ve lifted the image for this post from the local South Coast Register where you can see the kids from our school and the ceremony in process. It is a beautiful spot that holds extra significance for me as this was the place where I would come to sit alone in late 2021 when I was facing my own darkest times. I won’t go into that other than to just reinforce the phrase – Lest We Forget.
My wifes parents came down for the March and Service this year and they took the kids for the afternoon so that us adults could go out for a little tipple. Both local pubs were running Two Up games and that is always a fun and lively way to spend the afternoon. We both had decent wins this year, which was pretty timely and allowed us to kick on a little longer and further than we should have.
Australians playing two-up during World War I near Ypres 1917
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There are also the traditional ANZAC Day sporting clashes and while my team lost quite heavily it was a good afternoon spent enjoying a few sherberts and mingling with the other locals. There were a number of people I hadn’t caught up with for many months now so it was a good reminder that I need to make more effort to be social. All up it was a great day and it definitely felt good for the soul.
I never got a chance to go to the dawn service. But when I first moved to Canberra I worked at a hotel that was spitting distance to the Australian War Memorial. After the dawn service all of the folks would come to our hotel for a big breakfast.
I know the Australian association in Seattle also had a dawn service thing here last year. Assuming they did this year too.
And with ANZAC Day done… you are officially into autumn. 🍂 Time to turn on the central heating in your house if you have it. (That was our tradition. No heat til ANZAC Day. 😄)
It does get super cold in Canberra. Can imagine the Dawn Services would have needed a few Irish Coffees.
Doesn't quite get that cold here so maybe we can get by for another month before the heaters come on.
Ah, I love a parade! I used to march in the Memorial Day parade here in the US in my hometown. It is a day to celebrate our fallen soldiers. Does the ANZAC stand for something?
Yes, ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and April 25 is the day the first ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli in 1915. I suspect that our ANZAC Day would be very similar to your Memorial Day.
Yes, sounds like that or independence day. I learned about Gallipoli in university.
Never heard of it but it sounds like a good time. It’s good to socialize a little brother. Don’t be a hermit.
I know. Sometimes I just need a little reminding.
Parades have its way of making me emotional. I once spent three weeks in the barracks so we learnt how to parade and all of these things…