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As an ex serving member, may I express my thanks to you, on behalf of my brothers and sisters in the Australian & New Zealand Defence Forces for taking the time to remember, not only those who have served but those who currently serve their nation on operations around the world.
ANZAC Day, why do we commemorate it with a Dawn Service?
There have been many articles written on the history / origin of Dawn Services over the years.
There is a belief that the holding of a commemorative service at dawn may have had its origins from either the military practice of ‘stand to’ at dawn on the battle field, or it may also have recognized origins from the dawn landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.
Whilst the previous origins are probable, there is one fact that that may or may not come as a surprise too many people gathered here today the tradition of the Dawn Service actually began Albany, WA in 1923, by an unassuming Priest, the late Reverend Arthur Ernest White.
In a small cemetery just outside Herberton, Nth QLD, is a marker beside a grave that says, ‘Here …lies the grave of the late Reverend Arthur Ernest White, a Church of England clergyman and Padre, 44th Battalion, First Australian Imperial Force on 25th April 1923, at Albany in Western Australia, the Rev White led the first ever observance of a Dawn parade on ANZAC Day.’
This tradition continues today some 91 years later as we gather to honour not only the original ANZACs but all Australians who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country not only in combat but in peace-keeping, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions’.
But it was Gallipoli which gave us pride, not in war, but in the knowledge that New Zealanders and Australian, put to the test would not fail. That the spirit and tradition sustained our forces in many later battles and trials and in many ways sustains us now.
Today is a special day when we remember all personnel, services and civilians of every nation, who have suffered or continue to suffer including those next of kin whose grief and sense of loss can never be eased. It is through their physical and mental scars of war, that we and the people of other nations can live in peace.
ANZAC Day is also a day of thanks and quiet reflection on what a wonderful lucky nation we live in. It is a time to reflect on Australia’s continued commitment to contribute to peace in other parts of the world. We cannot isolate ourselves and ignore those responsibilities. In a perfect world there would be not wars, no aggression and no requirement to maintain defence forces. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world and there are more areas of conflict than ever before.
Some say this day glorifies war, but every veteran will be the first to say that their greatest wish and most fervent prayer is that their children and this nation may never have to experience or witness the horrors of war.
As the ranks of our older veterans continue to diminish and are replenished with the new wave of younger veterans, let us be determined to maintain this special day so that we can take a break from the roller coaster of life to reflect on how fortunate we are, to reflect on our freedom, to recognise the futility of war but to acknowledge that we must be prepared to defend this freedom and those of other nations as history replete with peaceful nations being subjected to aggression.
Should threats develop in the future let us pray that the Australian people have the same courage and resolve as our forbearers to keep this great, very special nation of ours free and that we remain committed to contributing to peace throughout the world.
On this day 25th of April since 1915 New Zealanders and Australians at home and abroad have gathered to commemorate not just those ANZACs who died on that day, but every one of our service men and women who has died in war or as a result of it since then. Duty, patriotism, individual sacrifice, and the affirmation of the New Zealand and Australian relationship is the enduring legacies of Gallipoli and all subsequent conflicts involving our two nations. The men and women who forged the ANZAC spirit made sure that those who led them earned their respect. They all understood the values of independence, freedom and fairness and about all possessed a willingness to defend these things if need be. Because freedom only services as long as the people are willing to defend it.
So on ANZAC day, together with thousands of others in cities and townships throughout New Zealand and Australia we honour great men and women and a great tradition. We gather, as we shall always gather, not to glorify war, but to remind ourselves that we value who we are and the freedoms we possess, and to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice those who contributed so much in shaping the identity of this proud nation.
Take a moment and remember all the young New Zealanders and Australians who sacrificed the pleasure of growing old with their families, children and friends so that we could enjoy these freedoms and the pleasure of listening to the birds and voices of the those we love.
