Anzac Presentation - Vatsala: What is the significance of ANZAC day 100 years on? -Identity -Commemoration -Celebration

1.  IDENTITY and CULTURE:
“It is a legend not of sweeping military victories so
much as triumphs against the odds, of courage and
ingenuity in adversity. It is a legend of free and
independent spirits whose discipline derived less
from military formalities and customs than from
the bonds of mateship and the demands of
necessity”
-Former Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr
Paul Keatingc, at the Entombment of the
Unknown Soldier at the Australian War Memorial,
1993
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/anzac-day
The Australia Memorial, which is memorial to
honour veterans who died during the war is very
important to the Australian identity. There is an
Australian War memorial is in Canberra and each
other state and territory also has its own war
memorial. ANZAC day tradition such as the laying
of the wreath, the sounding of the last post and the
observance of one minute’s silence are an
important part of Australian tradition and culture.
Courage, Mateship, Sacrifice, Endurance
Even though the war is not the only thing which
shaped Australia as a nation, it definitely one of
the major contributors, as Australia was only
federated about 15 years before the war. The war
has made Australians well known for
demonstrating courage, mateship, sacrifice and
endurance.

2.  ANZAC day is day of commemoration of the Australians who served in the war and even gave up their lives for
Australia.
 Australians commemorate the ANZACs by wearing the red poppy, a symbol of remembrance, by watching dawn
services and by visiting war memorials including the tomb of the last soldier.
 The ANZAC survivors pay their respects to their fellow soldiers by marching in the ANZAC day parades.
 Family members often wear the war medals of an ANZAC soldier in their family, to display their gratitude and thanks
towards that person.
 Australians also participate in poppy planting to commemorate the veterans, the sounding of the last post and the
reading of the ANZAC day poem.
 All Australians remember the words ‘Lest we Forgot’ and “We will remember them”, which are often used to
commemorate ANZACs.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM:
"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."
http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/Traditions/The-Ode

3.  Australian celebrate ANZAC day by spending the day with family and friends, going out for lunches and dinners and by
baking ANZAC cookies.
 Australians often like to share war stories on ANZAC day, read diaries and old documents and also admire the war
medals of ANZAC soldiers in their families.
 People also enjoy watching the football game between Collingwood and Essendon, which is held on ANZAC day.
 Some people believe that ANZAC day should not be celebrated in this manner because it is disrespectful to our
soldiers. They believe that ANZAC day is a day to commemorate our dead and it should not be so commercialised and
published like it is today.