Lest We Forget – ANZAC Day 2013

Olsens in Uniform

ANZAC Day, the 25th of April, has been described as Australia’s most important national occasion. While many public holidays are just about getting an extra day off, ANZAC Day has real significance for many Australians.

It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. While the date is aligned with that event in the First World War, the day is a remembrance of all those who have been to war to protect our freedom.

ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. On ANZAC day, ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the nation to acknowledge the service of our veterans.

Sadie OlsenMy parents served in the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War. (You can click on any of the photos for a closer look. As well as the individual photos of my parents, the top picture shows my dad on the far right with his father and two of his brothers.)

I’ve been watching television coverage of several ANZAC ceremonies today. After all these years the support for these commemorations continues to grow as the stories of heroism are remembered. As I look at the faces of those who served our country I see the pain as they remember their service during the dawn services as well as the joy of being remembered as they travel the route of the marches along city streets. When they see the faces n the crowds and hear the cheering as they pass, they know that this country is grateful for their sacrifice and the sacrifice of those who didn’t make it home.
Tom Olsen
War is a terrible thing, and I’m glad that I’ve never had to fight, but I am grateful for the courage and sacrifice of those who fought for our country. I shudder when I imagine what it would be like to face a hostile enemy, knowing that any moment could be my last.

I would hate to have to go to war. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to say goodbye to my loved ones, not knowing if I’d ever see them again. Having kids of my own, I don’t even want to think about the parents that have seen their children go to war. My hope is that we will continue to work towards finding better, peaceful ways to overcome conflict. War should never be the answer.

ANZAC Day isn’t about glorifying war, it’s about paying our respects to those who put their lives on the line for their countrymen and the generations to come.



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Kmart Sucks

In the brilliant 1988 movie Rain Man, the character of Raymond Babbit says, “Kmart sucks”. Raymond might have a bit more support for his statement now that Kmart in Australia has applied to open their doors early on ANZAC Day.

For those outside Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand observed on the 25th of April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Over the years it has broadened its purpose, becoming a day that commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries.

News.com.au is now reporting that Kmart has applied to the New South Wales government for permission to trade before the traditional opening time on ANZAC Day of 1:00 p.m. (Thankfully shops in Perth don’t open at all on ANZAC Day.)

Their submission contends that staying closed for a morning to remember those who fought and died for our countries may inconvenience their shoppers.

Kmart submits that there is a desire within the community to see our stores open before 1pm on ANZAC Day.

Customers who are used to being able to shop at any time would potentially be severely inconvenienced by our closure. In short, they would not be able to obtain necessity items when they want.

Seriously? Your customers would potentially be severely inconvenienced by your closure for one morning? Do you think that the men and women who travelled overseas to protect our country, many of whom never returned, weren’t just a little more inconvenienced than not being able to shop for a few hours one morning a year? They were prepared to risk their lives and you’re not even prepared to give up a few hours profit? Do you think that your customers are really so stupid that they can’t plan a day ahead to buy ‘necessity items’?

War is never a good thing but surely those who gave their lives for our freedom didn’t do it only to give us freedom of shopping hours.

The application claims that shopping is “an important leisure activity” and that it “provides for the opportunity for families to come together . . . and gives them reason to spend special time with one another.”

Has shopping become that much of a god to us? Are our lives so empty that we consider a visit to the shopping centre as ‘family time’?

I think that Kmart has seriously misjudged the mood of the Australian population on this one and I truly hope that not only will their application fail but that Kmart will issue an apology for their insensitivity.



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