One of the greatest privileges we enjoy as Australians is that of freedom. We aren’t at war in our own country, and our children can sleep at night, safe from the sounds of a war-torn environment. Our communities are safe from international conflict on our home soil, and our life continues as usual while other parts of the world are in despair.
One of the greatest books I ever read as a child and re-read as an adult was The Diary of Anne Frank. While not an Australian story, of course, it was a clear depiction of a period filled with unreasonable war and discrimination, shared through the innocent eyes of a child.
As a child, I felt connected to Anne Frank, and as an adult, I felt heartbroken and can see the childhood snatched from her and the shift from innocence to hardened through her words over time. Perhaps it’s my earliest memory of being exposed to the world and some of the horrors at large, or maybe it was the age at which I first read the book, coupled with the relatability to Anne’s age. Still, it’s the most impactful book in my repertoire, a collection that has shaped how I see and observe the world.
While this reflection of Anne Franks’s diary is not from an Australian child, when I reflect in the lead-up to ANZAC Day each year, I’m reminded of what the children, women and men went through at the time we went to war with the world.
As heartbreaking as it is to watch a dramatisation of events in a movie where the end is already known, it’s the movies that share the stories in a relatable way which allows us to embark on a journey of discovery coupled with, dare I say it, entertainment. These are the stories of the men and women of our country and what they went through to keep us safe and free.
In addition, the time around ANZAC Day is the opportunity to visit museums, read books, listen to stories being shared on the television and radio and speak with people you know to hear from their experiences. Sharing experiences and remembering mates captures some of the essence of what it means to commemorate ANZAC Day and truly feel connected to the sacrifice.
It’s a day of immersive responsibility.
The sacrifice the men and women were and are willing to make, and the impact on the families they leave behind in both deployment and death, is a level of service I’ll be in awe of forever.
ANZAC Day is not a celebration but a commemoration, and we must correct the language of those who walk after us to preserve the message. It’s not the fault of those who use the wrong words; I’d presume it’s simply a lack of awareness or understanding.
ANZAC Day is not ‘just another public holiday’ either, and there is a reason why there is no gazetted day when the date falls on a weekend. It’s a day of remembrance, not an extra day off. While this isn’t a challenge to overcome this year, the occasion is few and far between but again, there must be awareness and understanding which emphasises the date’s significance.
It’s the one key day per year when we all acknowledge and appreciate the sacrifice and service of those men and women who made it their life’s work to keep us safe and free. It’s the time to recognise the impact on a family, a community and the individuals who serve/d, and a day to understand the burden they carry for a lifetime.
No one wants to go to war. But to those who do anyway because they’re called to, we thank you. “I wear a little poppy as red as red can be to show that I remember those who fought for me”.
“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.”
