The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, addressed an Anzac Day service (25th April 2013), held in Townsville, Queensland.
The dawn service was attended by some 15,00 people to mark the 98th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
Entente forces, including the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, attempted to invade the Ottoman Empire without success in 1915, suffering heavy losses.
A theme of relating Australia’s military past to its military present ran throughout the speech, as the Prime Minister told serving soldiers and veterans that “today, we honour your sacrifice too”.
“No one better exemplifies the ANZAC story of duty and sacrifice than the uniformed men and women of this garrison city [Townsville] who leave here so often to serve Australia overseas”.
“No one better exemplifies the respect, the admiration, the affection, the love, we feel for our people in uniform than the families and citizens of this great Australian community”.
Speaking of Australian’s experience of war, the Prime Minister continued that soldiers and their families past and present: “[say] goodbye in the hope your loved one will come back.
That is the story of this community today – it has been the story of so many Australian communities throughout our history – just as it was the story of the families and communities who farewelled the ANZACs in 1914 and 1915″.
In several European countries, there has been debate as to whether the Centenary of the First World War should be marked with commemoration or celebration.
The Prime Minister’s speech gave some recognition to the debate:
“those who have been to war – you who have been to war – never forget its horror”.
The “horrors” of war are “how we [Australians] remember it [the First World War] on this day”.
The Prime Minister did indicate that although war was the “worst of human experience”, it also came with “its pride and victories as well”, and that “we remember that today, we remember our whole experience [of war]”.
The Prime Minister continued that on Anzac Day in Australia “you will see ceremonies as grave and solemn as any in Europe.
A nation which expresses its most eloquent patriotic spirit in the silences we share on this day.
Moments later, joyful laughter, rum and milk, two-up and the telling of stories that get taller by the hour – softening perhaps, but never denying, the truths of this day”.
Mrs. Gillard concluded her speech stating that on Anzac Day “for a few hours each year, we hush the busy course of our lives and dedicate this day, to remember.
Lest we forget”.
Images courtesy of Wikipedia
Source: Australian Government website
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News