Lest We Forget

So, I actually wrote this post on ANZAC Day, which is 25 April, but in the true fashion of my ongoing frustration with the new Google-owned Blogger, have been unable to post the jolly thing until now. I had pictures to accompany it, but am not going to push my luck and just try to post it now....

So today it's ANZAC Day. To try to explain ANZAC Day to non-Aussies is always a challenge – you tell them that it commemorates a battle where our forefathers were slaughtered and in which they were convincingly defeated, and they look at you blankly! I think you really have to be either Australian or New Zealander to get it – I just don’t think it can be explained. But to attempt to my non-ANZ audience, ANZAC Day occurs every 25 April, and commemorates the landing by the Australian New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC – geddit!) at Gallipoli in Turkey during WWI. They stormed the beach and fought the Turks with the eventual aim of conquering the country. They were famous for their bravery – even as they knew they were going to their deaths, the soldiers continued to go over the beachhead and attack. Of course, they eventually lost but it has become an iconic event (many foreigners will know the Mel Gibson movie, “Gallipoli”).

Anzac Day is a public holiday in Australia and there are Dawn Memorial Services in just about every town across the country, before all veterans of all wars march through the streets in parades, which are televised nationally. Relatives of mine have marched proudly every year – my Grandad marched until he couldn’t walk any more, then he rode in a jeep or car. Since his death, members of my family have marched with his battalion, wearing his medals.

I am a complete sap and Anzac Day always gets me – the sight of all these old men and women, who went out to fight for freedom etc., chokes me right up – I always need to be wearing sunglasses at the Anzac Day parades. And this year, I think it is affecting me more than usual, so close after the death of my Nana. My Aunt wrote to me yesterday, that she had finished going through Nana’s things. I apparently get my rat-pack tendencies from her, as she kept birthday cards, Christmas cards, even all the cards she received at her wedding!! And there were also all the invitations to events at my Primary School – the thought of Nana keeping all those set me off again… I still miss her so much.

So not much news from Uganda today, just reflections from home. Anzac Day is a guaranteed day that Iwill miss home – I remember in the Philippines it was my first day of work in the new office. I tried to find a Dawn Service or some kind of memorial in Kamapala to attend, but there didn’t seem to be anything here (I don’t think there are many Aussies – we don’t even have a consulate here), so couldn’t even do that.

Another tradition of Anzac Day is the footy match between Essendon (my team) and Collingwood (NOT my team!) And of course – Essendon lost…

On that note – Happy Anzac Day!