Inspiration
ANZAC Day 2024 saw huge crowds again attending moving services to honour the fallen and all who have served for Australia in conflict since the 1914 war.
Two million men and women have served this nation overall and one hundred and twenty thousand (well beyond an MCG grand final crowd) have paid the supreme sacrifice. Almost twice that number were wounded or maimed.
In 1914, Australians volunteered to fight for freedom. Nearly half a million left the cities, towns, and villages to go far from home to fight a menacing foe. Mostly they were in their late teens, twenties, and thirties. They left their families and loved ones, friends, workplaces, sports clubs, and so much more.
Many thousands did not return and graves of the known and unknown are marked by simple white crosses in Europe, Africa, The Middle East, and countries of South East Asia.
In every suburb, town, and village across this vast land, there is a plaque or memorial with the names of those who never returned.
The silent tributes across the nation from football and rugby crowds also demonstrated how the vast majority of Australians and New Zealanders view this sacred day, and the sacrifices and immortal deeds of so many.
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The dawn services at Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux in Northern France were once more truly inspirational and moving. Many Aussies – young and old – made the pilgrimage to both places.
The deputy Prime Ministers of Australian and New Zealand Richard Marles and Winston Peters gave wonderful addresses as a lone piper played quietly on a hillside nearby.
The anthems of both countries were sung beautifully, as was the anthem of Turkey. A Turkish general spoke the famous lines of his country’s legendary war leader (and later president) Kemal Ataturk. He said, “The sons of Australia who lie in our country’s soil are also sons of this land”.
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It was wonderful to witness the presence of so many children and teenagers at services across Australia and New Zealand. Overall, the assemblages and visions across this vast land showed the real Australians and real Australia.
It was a huge contrast to the few hundred ‘professional’ politicians dishonouring ANZAC Day in Melbourne and Sydney. Australia has a minority of enemies who seek to tear down our way of life, our freedoms, and our history.
Sadly, among them are teachers and lecturers at schools and universities. Their messages and those of many of the ‘grievance’ so called elite must not prevail.
POSTSCRIPT: The timeless words from the force’s chaplains of both countries and the soul stirring renditions of the classic hymns ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Abide with me’ featured at Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux.
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Remembering
A faded sepia photo received the other day reminded me once more of a brave uncle who served in World War II. Humphrey David Carroll enlisted in 1939 and served until 1945. He served in Africa, Middle East, Greece, and PNG a combined total of 1,959 days with 1,824 of them being on active service.
He was a recipient of the 1939 – 45 star, the Africa star, Pacific star, Defence medal, and Australian service medal. He was medically discharged from service in March, 1945.
Like so many others, he suffered from war fatigue, illness, and injuries and was haunted by visions of dead comrades. He lived out his final years at the Plough Hotel in Footscray where he helped out the family.
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His great grand nephew Cooper (pictured) is honouring his memory. Formerly of Broadford and an ACK graduate, he is now at Gallipoli Fields (Enoggera) in Brisbane.
Gareth to UK
Broadford cricket club coach and co-captain Gareth Sharp, just fresh from his club’s premiership, has gone to England for the northern summer. He will play for the Odiham-Greywell club in the strong Hampshire league.
The club was founded in 1974 and is one of the five oldest in the world. It fields four men’s, two women’s, and ten junior XI’s. Oldham is a lovely market town surrounded by glorious countryside. Gareth’s dad Greg played football at Carlton and premier cricket in Sydney.
