ANZAC Day in Australia

On April 25th Australians and New Zealanders all over the world celebrate ANZAC Day. This is a very special day on the calendar of both nations.

ANZAC is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It is regarded by many in Australia as the day our nation took its place on the world stage. Soldiers from both countries landed on the beach of what was later called Anzac Cove at Gallipoli in Turkey on 25th April, 1915. It was at a terrible cost; many thousands of soldiers on both sides died in a protracted battle lasting many months.

ANZAC Day is celebrated throughout Australia and New Zealand and in many other parts of the world to commemorate this special event. Most communities – from small townships through the largest cities – hold Dawn Services to remember the fallen soldiers. Parades are a feature of our larger cities. As the soldiers who survived pass away with the passage of time, their places are proudly taken by their children and grandchildren, most wearing their badges and decorations with great respect and pride.

In the early 1980s the numbers observing this great event in our history dwindled as the numbers of survivors declined. In the last decade however, this trend has been reversed. As the last of the survivors of the attack in Gallipoli died several years ago, many of the younger generation – those in their twenties and thirties – suddenly realised the passing of history. Every year since the parades and observances have seen ever increasing numbers of participants, all eager to remember this significant turning point in our history. Of particular interest is the increasing number of people – again, mostly younger people – who make the long pilgrimage to Gallipoli itself. The emotionally moving Dawn Service on ANZAC Day is often attended by over twenty thousand people.

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8 Responses to “ANZAC Day in Australia”

  1. Rick Cockrum says:

    It’s good to see young people remembering their history, the context of of where we are.

    Happy ANZAC Day doesn’t sound right. What greeting do you use for this day?

  2. Trevor says:

    Hi there Rick. You are right about the younger generation and it is so great to see renewed interest in what has become our most sacred day.

    There is no common greeting used in Australia for ANZAC Day, except for perhaps the usual laconic, laid back Aussie greeting used on all occasions, “G’Day Mate.”

    Mateship – looking after your friend or neighbour no matter what – is so Australian and has been forged from terrible times of hardship – floods, drought, war, fire. Mateship is the very essence of the “Anzac spirit”.

    Apart from the very solemn and sombre dawn services and street marches, the day is usually celebrated by drinking with mates, usually to excess, family BBQs and going to the footy (Aussie Rules Football) in the afternoon.

  3. Peter says:

    Hi there Rick,
    your right about ANZAC Day it celebrates the troops and the landing of the troops but the the bad thing wasthey landed at the wroung beach they landed further north of Gaba Tepe.

    Thaks Peter

  4. Peter says:

    wait sorry talking to trevor

  5. belle cool and mollie says:

    this is very interesting and it is good for mine and mollie’s poster for school

  6. rebecca says:

    To keep alive the memory of all those who have fought and for those who have died protecting their country and it’s people.We should never let our heroes be forgotten.Ever!!!
    Member since:
    06 April 2006

    For the loving soldiers who fought in order to save our countries, yet couldn’t save themsleves. Poor blokes!
    to remember the anzac’s

  7. Trevor says:

    I have just had to moderate 3 comments on this post from someone pretending to be Asian – possibly Chinese – but whose IP address was Australian. He/she used 3 different names and 3 different email addresses all of which looked bogus.

    The comments were inappropriate and inflammatory and showed no respect for the day Australians regard as special. I have treated the comments in the same way I treat the hundreds of spam comments I get every week. As owner and moderator of this site I reserve the right to approve or delete comments.