For as long as I can remember, ANZAC Day meant for us as kids a trip in to the city come rain, hail or shine to watch our Grandpa march each year. It was Grandpas special day where he could catch up with his mates who he had served with in World War II and have a beer. Grandpa was one of the guys who were so young and had to have approval from their mother to serve their country, influenced by his older brother and uncles who had already enlisted. So he got his wish, got a uniform and a plane ride to strange tropical country where his 936 day journey began. Grandpa was posted to the 3rd Field Ambulance as a Medic, where they spent their days in the mud of the Kokoda trail, dragging out the wounded soldiers treating them on the spot, then loading them on a plane for evacuation to a real field hospital. He never told his family much about it, so we all knew not to ask too much but you can only imagine the things these young men had to deal with on a daily basis.
Grandpa was a large part of my inspiration to join the Army, it just seemed like the right thing to do. After years of valuing the soldiers and watching them march each ANZAC Day it would always be a little sad when the groups were getting smaller and smaller. My favourite and proudest ANZAC Day was the year it was me marching through the city in my uniform with my Grandpa now too old to march but not to old to attend, and there he was on the footpath waving to me this time. Another ANZAC Day memory for me is one year I was taking part in a Dawn Service Catafalque party, there I was in uniform doing my drill in the dark and this little voice keeps announcing “that’s my Mummy!” my three year old son at the time! The crowd were laughing, very hard to keep a straight face!
Please don’t ever forget the true and very real meaning of ANZAC Day, for us ANZAC Day is now a reminder of our late Grandpa who we lost a few years ago. It is also a time to think of everyone else who has since served, not just in WWI and WW2 but even the current Operations that our men and women so selflessly fight in so you don’t have to. ANZAC Day is not just a day off work, not just an excuse to get drunk, not just a BBQ with your mates, it is a real day to reflect on something very real that happened that had and continues to have a very real effect on how we live so freely. Enjoy your day, but take a moment to remember all the Grandpas and current men and women serving.
Lest we forget
Renee
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