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Soccer’s “greatest domestic treasure” found after 70 years

<p>It took 69 years, but the Soccer Ashes have finally been found. </p> <p>Australian football has been on the hunt for the treasured trophy since 1954, when it - by all accounts - disappeared from the face of the Earth. </p> <p>The “greatest domestic treasure”, a title bestowed upon it by Australian football historian Trevor Thompson, is easy enough to miss at first glance. The hand-carved wooden box is small, but like with most things in life, it’s what’s on the inside that counts - in this case, the ashes of two cigars smoked by the Australia and New Zealand captains in 1923 following their first ‘A’ international match in Australia. </p> <p>The trophy - which is now considered to be a main contributing element in the wider history of Australia’s national team, the Socceroos - serves as the first one ever contested between the rival sides, and was thought up by the then-team manager for New Zealand, Harry Mayer. </p> <p>His belief that the two sides needed something to play for - similar to cricket’s Ashes - led to its creation. Mayer himself - a trophy maker - constructed the piece, combining the likes of New Zealand honeysuckle and Australian maple, including the iconic imagery of kangaroos and silver ferns on its lid.</p> <p>Within the box lies a blue velvet lining, and a silver-plated razor case. The case is a main feature of the trophy, as it once belonged to the-secretary of the Queensland Football Association, Private William Fisher. He had been carrying it with him during the 1915 Gallipoli landing.</p> <p>In the 30 years to follow, the two nations competed for the trophy, and saw it passed back and forth between Australia and New Zealand before its 1954 disappearance. And while some feared it had simply been tossed aside or at worst destroyed, many were not willing to give up on it. </p> <p>Historians Trevor Thompson and Ian Syson, for example, set out in 2019 on a mission to track it down, armed with the support of Football Australian and government funding.</p> <p>And to the delight of soccer fans across both nations, they did it. </p> <p>The family of the late and former Australian Soccer Football Association’s chairman Sydney Storey found it tucked away with a whole host of other treasures - including but not limited to football memorabilia, pictures, newspaper clippings, and other assorted documents - in his garage. It took them a year to identify and verify all of Storey’s vast collection, but it was all worth the wait, with the family reaching out to Football Australia as soon as possible. </p> <p>In the wake of the joyous discovery, there have been calls for the trophy - or at least a replica of it - to once again be implemented, as well as for the trans-Tasman competition to become an annual event. </p> <p>As Ian Syson explained, “this trophy is symbolic of something really important, and its discovery is also really important as well.</p> <p>"Its absence was a symptom of Australian soccer's tendency to forget itself, and for the surrounding culture not to care at all.</p> <p>"This trophy is replete with sacred significance to a country that is so obsessed with its Anzac mythology. For that to go missing, it says a lot about the way this game manages to shoot itself in the foot all the time.</p> <p>"And so maybe this is a sign that the game can correct itself, can fix itself, can remember itself - if there's enough people caring about it, if there's enough people taking an interest in the history.</p> <p>"It means so much for the game."</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

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"Too busy marching": Debate rages over fiery Anzac Day post

<p>A man has shared a controversial claim on Twitter about Australia’s relationship to Anzac Day, sparking a fiery debate.</p> <p>Australians and New Zealanders gathered to commemorate the 108th anniversary of the landing of Anzac troops at Gallipoli in World War I on April 25th. Services were held all over both countries to mark the day of remembrance.</p> <p>On May 34th, Brad Turner, who says he is a former Navy submariner and AFP officer, took to Twitter to argue that the values of the annual celebration were “no longer reflected” by Australia.</p> <p>He notably called out Australia’s confrontation with China on behalf of the US.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Australia is a society that dutifully gets up early every April 25 to gather, Mach & remember our Dead. Speeches are made, politicians speak of sacrifice & honour whilst possessing or embodying neither. That same society that holds paramount ideals of egalitarianism, mateship &… <a href="https://t.co/sbHHbRiYAF">pic.twitter.com/sbHHbRiYAF</a></p> <p>— Brad Turner (@tur14865416) <a href="https://twitter.com/tur14865416/status/1650394428841037826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“Australia is a society that dutifully gets up early every April 25 to gather, march and remember our dead,” he wrote in the post, which has been viewed more than 20,000 times.</p> <p>“Speeches are made, politicians speak of sacrifice and honour whilst possessing or embodying neither. That same society that holds paramount ideals of egalitarianism, mateship and sacrifice is forgotten on the other 364 days of the year.</p> <p>“On those days Australia marches right past veteran suicides, war crimes, illegal wars and widespread inequality and corruption. Is it really a day of remembrance? Or is it theatrics so society can pretend they care about victims of war or our conduct as a country with an aim to feel better about apathy and inaction as a nation towards these things.</p> <p>“We don’t notice any of these things because we are too busy marching. But this time it’s headlong into another pointless American war with China. The things we celebrate about our nation on Anzac Day are sadly no longer reflected in Australia’s actions. They have not been in some time.”</p> <p>Several people online took the same stance as Mr Turner.</p> <p>“I don’t like Anzac Day. It overlooks our follies in joining Britain and US wars. WWII was noble. The rest were con jobs to enrich the industrialists. Our people have all these solemn events only to assuage their ‘je ne c’est quoi’ because they don’t feel any guilt but should,” one wrote.</p> <p>“Our politicians spend more on memorial monuments and museums that they can put their name on a plaque on the wall than they do for the actual veterans who are suffering from PTSD or other ‘souvenirs’ they have brought back from their tours,” another said.</p> <p>“Flag waving patriotism has taken over Anzac Day. We are one step away from parades of military hardware while the populace salute. What should be a reflection on the horrors of war has become it‘s celebration. John Howard did this,” a third added.</p> <p>“Listening to the Labor government yesterday follow in the footsteps of the Coalition, justifying spending billions antagonising China at America’s request is not the ‘lest we forget’ I think about,” a fourth wrote.</p> <p>Others fired back and said Anzac Day was still important.</p> <p>“Mate … it’s about remembering the sacrifice and loss of our mates … lest we forget,” one wrote, adding, “I don’t worry about [politicians] anymore grandstanding on the day. It’s our day not theirs to remember our mates.”</p> <p>Another wrote, “It is tradition. It separates the fluff of ordinary living to reflect on sacrifice not only of the dead, of lives unlived, of the unfathomable grief but also of the living dealing with the trauma and moral injury of tooth and claw war. It is not a celebration which distracts.”</p> <p>“I understand this perspective, but at the same time I ask myself — is there any harm in this form national reflection? I agree there have been some military follies following the absolute necessity of WWII, but would add that there is no guarantee that the next engagement is such,” a third wrote.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

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New lessons about old wars: keeping the complex story of Anzac Day relevant in the 21st century

<p>What happened on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey 108 years ago has shocked and shaped Aotearoa New Zealand ever since. The challenge in the 21st century, then, is how best to give contemporary relevance to such an epochal event.</p> <p>The essence of the Anzac story is well known. As part of the first world war British Imperial Forces, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzacs) landed at Gallipoli on April 25 1915. For eight months they endured the constant threat of death or maiming in terrible living conditions. </p> <p>Ultimately, their occupation of that narrow and rugged piece of Turkish coast failed. The 30,000 Anzacs were evacuated after eight months. More than 2,700 New Zealand and 8,700 Australian soldiers died, with many more wounded. </p> <p>The <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/anzac-day-resources">first anniversary</a> of the landing was a day of mourning, with Anzac Day becoming a public holiday in 1922. A remembrance day of sorrow mixed with pride, it has grown over the years to include all those who served and died in later international conflicts. </p> <p>Over time, various narratives and themes have emerged from that Gallipoli “origin story”: of Aotearoa New Zealand’s emergence as a nation, proving itself to Britain and Empire; of the brave, fit, loyal soldier-mates who emblemised the Kiwi spirit of egalitarianism, fairness and duty. All this mingled with the lasting shock and underlying anger at class hierarchy and the British leadership’s incompetence. </p> <p>But historians know well that the “Anzac spirit” is a complex and ever-evolving idea. In 2023, what do we teach school-aged children about its meaning and significance? One way forward is to rethink those Anzac narratives and tropes in a more complex way.</p> <h2>Colonialism and class</h2> <p>The Anzac story is tied up in the nation’s history as part of the British Empire. The Anzac toll was just part of a staggering 46,000 “Britons” – including many from India and Ireland – who died at Gallipoli. </p> <p>Some 86,000 Turks also died defending their peninsula. We need to teach about the Anzac sacrifice in the context of a global conflict where the magnitude of loss was horrific.</p> <p>Importantly, Anzac themes are bound up in early forms of colonial nationalism: New Zealand proving itself to Britain and developing its own fighting mentality on battlefields far from home. Part of this involves the notion of incompetent British commanders who let down the Anzac troops – but this is part of a bigger story.</p> <p>Focusing on imperial and class hierarchies of the time can place what happened in that broader context. The legendary story of <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/wellington-battalion-captures-chunuk-bair">Chunuck Bair</a>, taken on August 8 by Colonel William Malone’s Wellington Regiment, but where most of the soldiers were killed when they weren’t relieved in time, is particularly evocative.</p> <h2>Māori and the imperial project</h2> <p>From our vantage point in the present, of course, we cannot ignore the Māori experience of war and colonialism. As the historian Vincent O’Malley has suggested, New Zealand’s “great war” of nation-making was actually <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars">Ngā pakanga o Aotearoa</a> – the New Zealand Wars. </p> <p>It’s time to teach the complexity of this past and the multiple perspectives on it. For example, Waikato leader <a href="https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/te-kirihaehae-te-puea-herangi">Te Puea Hērangi</a>led opposition to WWI conscription and spoke against Māori participation on the side of a power that had only recently invaded her people’s land. </p> <p>Conversely, Māori seeking inclusion in the settler nation did participate. On July 3 1915, the 1st Māori Contingent landed at Anzac Cove. <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3b54/buck-peter-henry">Te Rangi Hiroa</a> (Sir Peter Buck) (Ngāti Mutunga) was to say, "Our feet were set on a distant land where our blood was to be shed in the cause of the Empire to which we belonged."</p> <p>These words echo the familiar Anzac trope of the New Zealand nation being born at Gallipoli. Such sentiments led to postwar pilgrimages to retrace the steps of ancestors and claim the site as part of an Anzac heritage – a corner of New Zealand even. </p> <p>For many young New Zealanders it has become a rite of passage, part of the big OE. That a visit to Anzac Cove is still more popular than visiting the sites of Ngā pakanga o Aotearoa is something our teaching can investigate.</p> <h2>Mateship and conformity</h2> <p>The notion of the Anzac soldier as courageous and beyond reproach, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for nation and empire, is also overdue for revision. The “glue” of mateship – a potent combination of masculine bravery and strength with extreme loyalty to fellow soldiers – is again a contested narrative. </p> <p>By the 1970s, as historian Rowan Light’s work shows, there was a significant challenge to such perceptions from the counterculture, peace protesters and feminists. And by the 1980s, veterans were sharing their stories more candidly with writer Maurice Shadbolt and war historian Chris Pugsley.</p> <p>Teaching about the meaning of mateship might examine the history of those peer-pressured into participating in war, those who were conscripted and had no choice, and more on the fate of conscientious objectors like Archibald Baxter. At its worst, the idea of mateship was window dressing for uniformity and parochialism. </p> <p>New Zealanders today have complex multicultural and global roots. We have ancestors who were co-opted to fight on different sides in 20th-century wars, including those who fought anti-colonial wars in India, Ireland and Samoa. Some came here as refugees escaping conflict. Jingoism and what it really represents deserves critical analysis.</p> <h2>Poppies and peace</h2> <p>The ubiquitous poppy, an icon much reproduced in classrooms, is also ripe for contextualisation and debate over its meaning. In the age of global environmental crisis, it can be seen as more than a symbol of sacrifice immortalised in verse and iconography.</p> <p>The poppy also reminds us of the landscapes devastated by the machinery of war that killed and maimed people, plants and animals. It contains within it myriad lessons about the threats science and technology can pose to a vulnerable planet.</p> <p>Anzac Day rose from the shock, loss and grief felt by those on the home front. And beyond the familiar tropes of nationalism, mateship and egalitarianism, this remains its overriding mood. </p> <p>Remembering and learning about the terrible physical and mental cost of war is the real point of those familiar phrases “lest we forget” and “never again”. That spirit of humanitarianism chimes with Aotearoa New Zealand’s modern role and evolving self-image as a peacekeeping, nuclear-free nation. </p> <p>Anzac Day also speaks to the need for global peace and arbitration, and how war is no viable solution to conflict. Those are surely lessons worth teaching.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-lessons-about-old-wars-keeping-the-complex-story-of-anzac-day-relevant-in-the-21st-century-204013" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

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Furore erupts after RSL member refuses to allow Indigenous flag at ANZAC service

<p dir="ltr">A NSW woman had the police called on her after she attempted to drape an Indigenous flag honouring First Nations diggers at her local war memorial service in Lismore.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cindy Roberts tried to display her flag beneath the Australian flag before the service began, but a local RSL member allegedly stopped her twice and called the police, according to the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10753649/Anzac-Day-2022-fury-memorial-service-hit-row-Indigenous-flag.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The incident has sparked outrage among those in attendance and online, with former Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell describing it as a “huge overreaction”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It wasn’t a huge protest in any way and was absolutely done respectfully,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was embarrassing and awkward and it should have just been allowed to pass without the fuss from the RSL member.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Roberts, whose daughter, grandparents and uncles have served in Australia’s armed forces, had taken part in the dawn service and the march to Lismore Memorial Baths for the ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">When she arrived, the only flag flying was the Australian flag, despite other venues displaying the Aboriginal, Australian, and Torres Strait Islander flags side by side.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just wanted to remember my ancestors that had fought in every single war, including the frontier war,” she told <em>Daily Mail Australia</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So I stood and I felt a spirit in my heart tell me to just lay the flag out. I didn’t put it on the flagpole, I just placed it on the ground underneath the Australian flag.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then I was approached by a member from the RSL and asked to remove the flag.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I said, ‘But my grandfathers and my uncles and my ancestors fought in the wars of this country’. He said, ‘This is not the time or the place’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought, ‘Well, when is the time to bring unity?’”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Roberts said she then picked the flag up and went to the spot where the wreaths were laid, where she was confronted again.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then (the RSL member) approached me again and told me to remove the flag again and with the police this time,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When this happened, I cried. I broke down and everyone saw me but I still stood there in the crowd behind the children with the Aboriginal flag.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Robert’s daughter Skye, who served as a ship technician in the Australian Navy for five years, was with her mother when the incident occurred.</p> <p dir="ltr">Celebrated Indigenous soldier Clarrie Combo, who fought for Australia in Egypt, Libya, Crete, Syria, Greece, Sri Lanka and New Guinea during WWII, was one of Ms Roberts’ great uncles.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our people have been through so much and I’m tired of them not being acknowledged,” Ms Roberts said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“First Nations people who fought in these wars deserve more respect because they put their lives on the line.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Dowell said she tried to reason with the RSL member and that she couldn’t understand why they were treating Ms Roberts.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I saw the reaction from a member of the RSL who was saying repeatedly, it’s not appropriate, it’s not appropriate,” she told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I didn’t quite know what was not appropriate. I thought it was very disappointing - and not one speaker in the whole ceremony even acknowledged country.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought that was poor. The situation could have easily have escalated if Cindy had chosen to do so but she didn’t and many there may not have even noticed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I thought she was very respectful and hopefully we can all learn from this incident - and that it doesn’t happen again.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The incident caused intense debate in the town’s Facebook group, with many supporting Ms Roberts.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To the beautiful Indigenous woman advocating to raise the Indigenous flag today at the service following the march, I am beyond apologetic for the utter disrespect you were shown,” one local wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others insisted that the Australian flag should cover everyone since soldiers all fought under it in wartime.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They fought under the Australian flag. We are all Australians,” one person said.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-596180ea-7fff-cebf-ca7d-1e543ffdf614"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Daily Mail</em></p>

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Tributes flow for one of our oldest WWII veterans

<p>One of Australia's oldest surviving World War II veterans, Bert Collins has died. Aged 105, he was the oldest member of the Australian Labor Party.</p><p>Albert "Bert" Collins was due to celebrate his 106th birthday in March.</p><p>Tributes recognising and remembering the Bankstown local have been posted online following news of his death. "My friend Bert Collins passed away this morning," Blaxland MP Jason Clare said.</p><p>"Bert was the oldest member of the Australian Labor Party.</p><p>"He would have turned 106 next month. Rest in Peace old friend."</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sad news. My friend Bert Collins passed away this morning. <br /><br />Bert was the oldest member of the ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianLabor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustralianLabor</a>⁩ Party. <br /><br />He would have turned 106 next month. Rest In Peace old friend. <a href="https://t.co/kN0Td8I2wz">pic.twitter.com/kN0Td8I2wz</a></p>— Jason Clare MP (@JasonClareMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonClareMP/status/1492753650015703040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2022</a></blockquote><p>The Labor Party also posted "Vale Bert Collins" on social media.</p><p>Mr Collins rose to the rank of a sergeant in the 52nd Australian Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment (AIF) based in Papua New Guinea.</p><p>The veteran's Anzac spirit has never wavered and was a quality admired by many.</p><p>"When I was a boy, my Mum instilled in me a very important lesson, which I've lived by my entire life," he told the Canterbury-Bankstown Council last year.</p><p>"She said I must remember to never be rude to anyone, to never tell lies and to always show respect towards others … and I have every day of my life."</p><p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

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Woolworths accused of “disgusting” Anzac biscuit scandal

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Woolworths has rejected claims it renamed Anzac biscuits after social media outrage caused by a recent recipe in one of its catalogues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Posts appearing on Facebook and Twitter suggested the supermarket giant had succumbed to “cancel culture” by removing the word Anzac from its biscuit recipes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the lead-up to Anzac Day, Woolworths featured a recipe for Golden Oat Biscuits in one of its catalogues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Noticing the striking similarity between the oat biscuits and the traditional Anzac biscuits, one person claimed, “Woolworths in their woke wisdom has changed the name of Anzac biscuits calling them golden oats because it may insult some people.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another shopper claimed the name change was “disgusting and a slap in the face for our Anzacs”, vowing to never shop at the supermarket again.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clarification came when a spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the biscuits were not called Anzac Day biscuits out of respect for the strict guidelines set by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has strict regulations around the word Anzac and how it can be used on products or in marketing,” they said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We didn’t have the relevant approvals to use the term for this particular recipe placement in the catalogue and wanted to ensure we respected the regulations.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height:335.4166666666667px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840941/woolworths-biscuits.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3499d58e56df4033b6242382ddd4640c" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Companies considering using the word Anzac in their products need to be approved by the department first, which Woolworths did not pursue in this instance.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yahoo News Australia understands the Golden Oat Biscuits recipe has featured in previous catalogues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The spokesperson reiterated Anzac biscuits were still available to purchase and had been approved for sale, with proceeds helping raise funds for veterans and their families.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yahoo News Australia also reached out to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to clarify on what the approved recipe is and whether Woolworths recipe would have been approved if an application had been submitted.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Comparing a 2014 recipe published by the department against the Woolworths recipe, both recipes feature the same ingredients but they use varying measures.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the guidelines, “The use of the word ‘Anzac’ in the commercial production and sale of Anzac biscuits is usually approved, however the biscuits must not substantially deviate from the generally accepted recipe and shape, and must be referred to as ‘Anzac Biscuits’”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The biscuits must avoid any additions such as chocolate chips and must not be called cookies.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p> <p><strong>Image credit: Woolworths</strong></p>

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Prince William’s special message for ANZAC troops

<p>The Duke of Cambridge has delivered a special message to commemorate the “Australians and New Zealanders killed in war and honouring returned servicemen and women” this April 25th.</p> <p>To honour the solemn occasion, Prince William sent a message to the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions in London.</p> <p>"This Anzac Day, Catherine and I join Australians and New Zealanders across the world to remember and honour the service men and women of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps," he said in the message.</p> <p>"Today we stand together to reflect not only on their sacrifices, but also their courage, sense of duty, and their famously indomitable spirit.</p> <p>"Though many will still be unable to come together in person this year, we are heartened in the knowledge that Australians and New Zealanders will continue to commemorate those who have given so much for our freedoms.</p> <p>"The ANZAC qualities of endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour and mateship are admired as fiercely as ever before. Lest we forget."</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840900/royal-family.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/861fc1b5ca7446d7aac96538a1536daa" /></p> <p>The Princess Royal also attended two ceremonies in representation of the royal family.</p> <p>Anne laid a wreath at the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Wellington March on Sunday morning.</p> <p>Later during the day, she and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence attended the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p>The Princess Royal donned a bright purple coat and matching hat for the day’s commemorations – a colour that despite its brightness, has been linked to mourning.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840899/royal-family-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/33dc45ae66f646dd8e2f8ffbe71dbcca" /></p> <p>Former royal family’s maid Alicia Healey says the colour has a sombre meaning for the royal family.</p> <p>"While the official period of Royal mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh is over, purple is often a colour that is worn after black when in mourning," Healey explained on her official<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COFaLNxHgCu/" target="_blank" title="Instagram account">Instagram account</a>.</p> <p>"So, it was an apt colour choice for today's remembrance service in honour of Australians and New Zealanders who have died in war.</p> <p>Healey worked at Buckingham Palace from 2006-2010.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840898/royal-family-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/42817585fe454de48453f2916313be01" /></p> <p>Queen Elizabeth did not make an official appearance for Anzac Day, as she mourns the loss of Prince Philip.</p> <p>While the official mourning period for the royal family is over, the Queen is said to be coping well as her children take turns to spend time with the grieving Majesty.</p>

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Princess Anne leads Anzac Day commemorations in purple "mourning" coat

<p>Princess Anne has attended Anzac commemorations in London, representing the royal family just a week after the funeral of her father Prince Philip.</p> <p>The Princess Royal was accompanied by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence for the dawn service at the Australian and New Zealand war memorials at Wellington Arch in London.</p> <p>Princess Anne laid a wreath at the memorial and signed a book of remembrance.</p> <p>The couple attended the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey afterwards.</p> <p>Anzac Day has been commemorated in London since the first anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli in 1916, when King George V attended a service at the Abbey.</p> <p>Princess Anne opted for a bright purple coat for the service, which was a far cry from the black she was seen wearing for her father's funeral.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/COGQAWNHfSJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COGQAWNHfSJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Former royal family lady's maid Alicia Healey says purple has long been associated with mourning.</p> <p>"While the official period of Royal mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh is over, purple is often a colour that is worn after black when in mourning," Healey explained on her official<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/COFaLNxHgCu/" target="_blank">Instagram account</a>.</p> <p>"So, it was an apt colour choice for today's remembrance service in honour of Australians and New Zealanders who have died in war.</p> <p>Healey worked at Buckingham Palace from 2006-2010, which is where she learned the rules around which colours are suitable to wear at various events.</p> <p>"In Victorian times full mourning lasted a year followed by half-mourning where purple, lilac, grey and white were worn," Healey concluded.</p>

Beauty & Style

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War medal reunited with family almost 100 years later

<p>A war medal lost on a Melbourne beach in Australia, almost more than 100 years ago, has finally been returned to the family of a World War I digger.</p> <p>Just in time for ANZAC Day, Private R.S.G. Smith’s lost WWI British Victory Medal lost on Chelsea Beach in 1925 has been returned – over 61 years since his death.</p> <p>The medal was found in 1980, about 10km away at Beaumaris Beach.</p> <p>Although there were attempts for the medal to be returned to its rightful owner, it was not until it was passed on to Lilydale police Sergeant Vaughan Artherton that the mystery was solved.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840880/gold-medal.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7753df1a9bab45f18cd4609ea3fc4678" /></p> <p>It was revealed that the man who found the medal 40 years ago was married at the time but later passed away.</p> <p>His wife later remarried and came into contact with Sergeant Atherton at their local Upwey Belgrave RSL Club.</p> <p>Sergeant Atherton found Private Smith’s details by combing through the National Archives of Australia, and it was there where he found Robert Stanley Gordon Smith who was born in Fitzroy in 1891.</p> <p>Mr Smith was enlisted at Broadmeadows on the August 7, 1915 and formed a part of the 13th Reinforcements, 5th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force.</p> <p>He later would go on to serve in France where he was wounded in action twice.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840879/gold-medal-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6bbbe9673e5e4ec693c7c62ccfb80faa" /></p> <p>The veteran would return to Australia after the war, and it was there he met and married Ada Grace Nicholl.</p> <p>He is memorialised at the Coburg cemetery in the north of Melbourne.</p> <p>Sergeant Atherton found information in his service record a statutory declaration where he requested to replace a “bade” that he had lost at Chelsea beach back in 1925.</p> <p>Private Smith’s nephew Alan Norster admitted he was overjoyed when Sergeant Atherton located him to return the war medal.</p> <p>“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to have this medal put on display at Upwey- Belgrave RSL museum,” he said.</p> <p> <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840878/gold-medal-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bb4b6b1c057846f2a29f1f1e499cfe16" /> </p> <p>“I am sure Private Smith’s medal will be treasured by all present and future RSL members”.</p> <p>“I am glad that I have been successful on this occasion in reuniting the medal with the recipient’s relatives”.</p> <p>The successful reunion comes just in time for Anzac Day on Sunday to commemorate the 106th anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing.</p> <p><em>Images: Channel 9</em></p>

Retirement Life

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WWII veteran granted his own Anzac day parade

<p>A 100-year-old World War II veteran has gone some way towards receiving the honour that he and his comrades deserve this year, despite the global coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p>Henry “Corky” Caldwell, who has not missed an Anzac Day parade in 75 years, told ABCNews that his family and an online community supported him through his journey to make sure he didn’t miss out on this year’s procession in spite of cancellations due to coronavirus restrictions.</p> <p>The decision to cancel gatherings around the country this year shocked this centenarian Digger from the New South Wales north coast, but his family and an online community rallied around him to make sure he didn't miss out.</p> <p>"It's very important. I've been going to it ever since the war finished," Corky said.</p> <p>Suzanne Lofts, Mr Caldwell's daughter, says Anzac Day means much more than just a parade for her father.</p> <p>"He does get very emotional about Anzac Day, he often has a tear when he lays his wreath because it reminds him of all his mates who have passed," Ms Lofts explained.</p> <p>"All his granddaughters and grandsons come from Sydney, Newcastle, and Brisbane to celebrate with him.</p> <p>"So, he was fairly gutted when Anzac Day wasn't going to happen this year."</p> <p>Ms Lofts took to Facebook to voice her father’s disappointment about the Anzac Day procession being cancelled – and the reaction she received was something she could not have imagined.</p> <p>Thousands of people took to the comments to thank the veteran for his service to his country and asked his family if there was anything that they could do to make the day more special for him.</p> <p>The online community sent in cards and paintings to Mr Caldwell.</p> <p>Phil Heesch from Grafton was made aware of the post from a friend who told him "that there was a very disappointed World War II Digger in Grafton who wanted a ride in a jeep because Anzac Day was cancelled.</p> <p>"Turns out that it's the same guy — Corky — who I take every year in our parade in Grafton," explained Mr Heesch.</p> <p>Mr Heesch offered to take Mr Caldwell on his own private, socially distanced parade through the streets of Grafton two weeks prior to Anzac Day, so the veteran could safely lay a wreath at the cenotaph.</p> <p><span>Ms Lofts says she grew up with an endless amount of war memorabilia and photographs of her father during the war.</span></p> <p>"He talks a lot about his war years, never the serious side of it but the funny, exciting side of it," Ms Lofts said.</p> <p>Mr Caldwell was just 21 when he enlisted in the war and was assigned to a unit of engineers who works in an Ordnance workshop near Cairo, Egypt.</p> <p>Before he shipped out, he armed himself with a then state-of-the-art Kodak pocket camera.</p> <p>The veteran worked long, tireless hours where he repaired tanks damaged in battle and ambulance.</p> <p>In 2008, Mr Caldwell was given the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community of the Clarence Valley region.</p> <p>In his 100 years of living, the war veteran admits he has lived through some difficult times, and as a child growing up through the Great Depression, his family was forced to live off rabbits and ducks.</p> <p>Food was scarce and “rationed”. Mr Caldwell says his mother "used to talk about how hard it was to buy food in the shops."</p> <p>Watching people panic-buy through the coronavirus pandemic has been a surprise for the veteran who believes “people are panicking too much.”</p> <p>"I think if they look after themselves, live quietly do the right thing, it [the virus] won't spread."</p>

News

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ANZAC disgrace: Man charged with "offensive act" at war memorial

<p>A man who allegedly relieved himself on the ANZAC memorial in Sydney’s CBD has been charged.</p> <p>The 23-year-old man was grabbed by officers after allegedly urinating on the western corner of the memorial building in Hyde Park. This occurred just before 11 pm on Thursday.</p> <p>He is due to face the Downing Centre Local Court on January 22 after being charged with committing an offensive act in or on a war memorial.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTSML4-DPY6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BTSML4-DPY6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Today we remember the brave men and women who have served our country. Lest we forget. Pic: @zxlee618</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/cityofsydney/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> City of Sydney</a> (@cityofsydney) on Apr 24, 2017 at 3:05pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Police say that he is the second man to be arrested for that specific offence this month, as a French tourist was allegedly caught doing the same thing on December 10.</p> <p>The 22-year-old man was walking through Hyde Park at around 10 pm when he stopped to relieve himself on the building.</p> <p>He was arrested by officers as well and charged with committing an offensive act in or on a war memorial or internment site.</p> <p>The man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on January 15th .</p>

Legal

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“We remember”: Auschwitz survivor and Vietnam vet on what ANZAC Day means to them

<p>Anzac Day means different things to different people. </p> <p>Frank Smolen, who turns 100 in October, survived Auschwitz. When Nazi Germany occupied his country, Frank joined the Polish Resistance. He spent about three years in this infamous concentration camp after the Gestapo discovered his allegiance to the resistance. </p> <p>Frank admires how Australians come together to remember the brave people who served their country in war. </p> <p>“Australians do it well. No other country in the world recognises their returned soldiers and diggers like that. They haven’t forgotten.”</p> <p>Frank moved from Poland to Australia after World War II. He met his future wife, Hedwig, on the boat trip to Australia and they enjoyed a happy life in Melbourne suburb, Footscray, before she passed away about 10 years ago. He has only recently started talking about some of his experiences.</p> <p>Today, he lives at VMCH aged care residence, St Bernadette’s in Sunshine. Frank’s family describe him as a treasure. </p> <p>“He’s just an adorable man and we love him to bits,” his daughter-in-law, Ina, says.</p> <p>While ANZAC Day was not something the family have been a part of in the past, Frank was moved when he was asked to be part of St Bernadette’s Anzac Day service last year.</p> <p>“St Bernadette’s asked him to lay the wreath for their Anzac Day service because he was the oldest one in the centre,” Ina, said. </p> <p>“He was so emotional and so proud. I really think that is the closest he’s ever come to somebody acknowledging what he’s been through.” </p> <p>Ina says Frank is in good health and the family hope to record his experiences during World War II to make sure his memories and important story is not lost. She sees parallels between his reasons for joining the Polish Resistance and what the ANZACs did. </p> <p>“We have asked him why did he do it? ‘Why were you part of the underground?’ He said, ‘I did it for Poland. I did it for the love of my country.’ That’s exactly how we look at our ANZACs and what they have been through at Gallipoli.  They just do it because it’s for their country,” she said.</p> <p>For Gary McNabb, 66, ANZAC Day is an important day to remember people who did not come back from war.  </p> <p>A Vietnam War veteran, Gary marches in the ANZAC Day Parade in Melbourne every year.</p> <p>“I can’t get over the amount of people there … all cheering. I am proud to march. But you still remember everyone that’s been your mates that are not with you anymore,” he says.</p> <p>Gary is a volunteer at St Bernadette’s. He started volunteering after his mum moved into St Bernadette’s about eight years ago. While his mum passed away a few years ago, Gary still volunteers. He loves to chat with residents and help out during the regular bingo games. </p> <p>Gary says he does not like to talk about his time during the Vietnam War. </p> <p>“I have locked it and thrown the key away,” he said. </p> <p>He says he only started marching in the Anzac Day parade in the ‘90s at the insistence of an aunt. But, now he enjoys the day and recalls the first time he joined the parade.</p> <p>“I met blokes I hadn’t seen in years and years. It felt fantastic.”</p> <p>It is the stories and sacrifice of people like Frank, Gary and countless others that continue to make days like Anzac Day so important to Australians.</p> <p>Lest we forget.</p>

Retirement Life

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When I attended the Gallipoli Dawn Service

<p>The Gallipoli Dawn Service is a solemn pilgrimage that gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers. When we asked the Over60 Community to share some of their memories from the service, we were overwhelmed by the response.</p> <p><strong>Jim Ritchie looks back on an emotional experience at Anzac Cove</strong>, “Attended the dawn service at Anzac Cove on Anzac Day 2013 while on tour in Turkey. Probably one of the more moving experiences of my life. As the hills over Gallipoli (Gelabolu) became light with the dawn sun the thousands of people were so quiet you could almost hear a pin drop. My imagination could practically see the ghosts of those long ago soldiers wading ashore.</p> <p>It is a pilgrimage for Australians that is akin to Mecca for the Muslim religion. Australians should try to go at least once in their lives. Since going to Gallipoli I have now made myself a promise that, after never attending a dawn service at home, I will try to go to my local dawn service every year for the rest of my life as long as I am able.”</p> <p><strong>Kelly Badrick describes a visit 10 years ago</strong>, “It was the most surreal feeling ever waking up to the Last Post, as the sun rose on the banks of Gallipoli (Canakkale). I felt so welcome and everyone was so helpful and friendly. It should be on everyone's bucket list and I will never forget the experience.”</p> <p><strong>Rhonda Weston found the commemoration extremely rewarding</strong>, “We were at Gallipoli Anzac Day 2005. The long walk in, the dawn service, the walk up the hill to Lone Pine, the service held in the Australian Cemetery are memories that will never leave us. The day before a fellow traveller stepped off our bus, walked into the water and played ‘Amazing Grace’ on his bagpipes. I get goosebumps every time I think of it. My husband’s Grandfather fought at Gallipoli.”</p> <p><strong>Megan Holleran says</strong>, “I've been to the dawn service in Gallipoli, one of the most moving experiences of my life, even wore my dad’s medal. The walk to lone pine afterwards was bloody hard work, can't believe those brave boys did it in lousy weather and carrying a lot more weight.”</p> <p><strong>Jim Hare went a few years ago</strong>, “Spent the night on the beach before attending the dawn service and other services for the 75th anniversary in 1990. A very moving experience.”</p> <p><strong>Anne Henderson hasn’t been to the service, but found a great alternative</strong>, “I was in Ypres, Belgium in 2012. Dawn service in Polygon Wood at the Anzac War memorial, and later 11am service at the Menin Gate, followed by a battlefield tour, which included Hill 60. Brendan Nelson was Ambassador to Belgium at the time and met him at breakfast in a school hall, along with Ben Roberts Smith and David Hurley. A very emotional day and a great alternative to Gallipoli or Villers Breteneux.”</p> <p><strong>Nina Elloy has been and plans to go again</strong>, “Yes I have, it was on my bucket list so my daughter took me but promised I would not kick the bucket for many years! I think I'll go again is year (10 years later). To Kings Park dawn service, it was beautiful, so many people, but pin drop silence.”</p> <p>Have you ever attended the Gallipoli Dawn Service?</p>

International Travel

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5 best Aussie destinations to observe ANZAC Day

<p>It’s one of our most significant national days and there are plenty of places to pay your respects.</p> <p><strong>1. National War Memorial, Canberra</strong></p> <p>More than 50,000 people gather for the dawn service at the national service in Canberra. From 4.30am, excerpts from letters and diaries of soldiers are read aloud before the ceremony begins at sunrise. For the two days leading up to the 25<sup>th</sup>, images of Australian servicemen and women from the archives will be projected onto the walls of the building.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35689/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (211)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Thousands of people gather in Martin Place to honour fallen soldiers.</em></p> <p><strong>2. Martin Place, Sydney</strong></p> <p>2017 marks the 101<sup>st</sup> anniversary of Anzac Day commemorations in Sydney and the ceremony begins at dawn at the Cenotaph in Martin Place. It will include a playing of the Last Post, an Ode of Remembrance, a minute’s silence and the laying of wreaths on the statue. The service is followed by the official Anzac Day March through the city at 9am and tens of thousands of people line the streets to cheer them on.</p> <p><strong>3. Darwin Cenotaph</strong></p> <p>As the only city on the Australian mainland ever to have been attacked during wartime, Anzac Day services in Darwin carry a special meaning. The dawn service is held overlooking the harbour that was bombed by the Japanese in World War II, causing hundreds of fatalities. An official Anzac church service is held at St Mary’s Cathedral from 7.30am.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35690/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (212)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Collingwood and Essendon players line up before the start of their ANZAC Day clash.</em></p> <p><strong>4. MCG, Melbourne</strong></p> <p>The Anzac Day Clash is an annual AFL match played between Collingwood and Essendon and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was first played in 1995 and is now the biggest match of the season outside of the finals, with tickets selling out well in advance. A special Anzac service is held at the stadium before the match starts, and both the players and crowd consider the game to be a mark of respect for the armed forces who have fought to preserve the Australian way of life.</p> <p><strong>5. Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide</strong></p> <p>Two Up is synonymous with Anzac Day, so don’t miss your chance to have a punt. This coin toss game is illegal for the rest of the year, but today every pub buzzes with it. The Torrens Parade Ground is an historic military site and two up is played in the Drill Hall from lunchtime, with games hosted by local RSL members. But be careful – it can be very easy to lose a lot of money in a short time.</p> <p>Have you been to any of these events?</p>

International Travel

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Our guide to the Gallipoli dawn service

<p>On the 25th of April, 1915, soldiers from Australia and New Zealand landed on a remote beach on the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli. It was hoped they would defeat the Turkish army swiftly and change the course of the First World War. But, after a bloody and fruitless eight months, the troops were evacuated and the campaign deemed a failure.</p> <p>Though the Gallipoli campaign itself achieved little, it was responsible for one of the most enduring elements of Australian culture, the Anzac legend. April 25 was declared Anzac Day in 1916 and every year since, thousands of people have come to that same beach to commemorate their sacrifice. The Anzac Day service at Gallipoli is a once in a lifetime experience.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35661/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (209)"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Anzac Military Cemetery in Gallipoli.</em></p> <p>Gallipoli is around five hours from the Turkish capital of Istanbul and almost all attendees for the service come as part of an organised tour as there is almost no public transport available. As space is limited, tours book out very quickly so it is a good idea to plan your trip up to 12 months in advance. It is essentially impossible to simply arrive on the day and attend.</p> <p>To be in place in time for the dawn service, most tours will arrive the night before and guests will sleep under the stars. In previous years, some attendees have chosen to drink heavily and have failed to treat the site with the proper respect. Authorities have cracked down on this and alcohol is now prohibited on the site. The crowds are kept entertained overnight by the Australian Army and Navy Band as well as choirs.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35662/image__498x245.jpg" alt="Image_ (210)"/> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Anzac Memorial in Gallipoli.</em></p> <p>The services begin as the sun rises over the battlefield. There is a minute’s silence and the Last Post is played, as well as the national anthems of Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. Once the wreaths have been laid, guests can attend the individual country services held around the site. Spend the rest of the day exploring the many cemeteries and memorials around the site.</p> <p>Have you ever attended the Gallipoli dawn service? Share your experience with us in the comments below.</p>

International Travel

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My 93-year-old WWII-vet dad’s Anzac Day wish came true

<p>Last month, <a href="/news/news/2016/04/93-year-old-wwii-veteran-dad-stopped-from-marching-on-anzac-day/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Gail Riley wrote about her father, a 93-year-old WWII vet from New Zealand, who was being stopped from his dreams of marching on Anzac Day</strong></span></a> in Melbourne with Aussie vets. Ivan Grbich’s dearest dream was to share the special experience with his 82-year-old South African wife, who he had met in a whirlwind romance three years ago, when she was visiting her family in New Zealand. However, due to visa problems there were questions up to the last minute as to whether she would be able to fly to Australia. This deeply saddened Ivan who wanted his wife by his side at this special occasion.</p> <p>Unfortunately, Ivan’s wife wasn’t able to attend the Anzac Day service, but thanks to her encouragement, the 93-year-old vet fulfilled his dream of marching with the Australian WWII veterans in Melbourne on Anzac Day. Here Gail shares the wonderful experience her father had on the day, as well as photos of the special trip above.</p> <p align="center">***</p> <p>This was an experience my father will never forget. It was quite an emotional one and he has taken many touching memories back home with him. The friendliness of the people amazed him. He had strangers come up to speak to him and shake his hand after the parade and he even had his photo taken with three obliging policemen. We have headlined the photo “shoulda gotta visa” – a kind of joke as his wife still has had no tourist visa granted yet!</p> <p>Anzac Day began for my father at 3.45am so it was a very long and tiring day, but he would not have missed any of it for the world. He is very keen to do it again next year should his health remain as good as it is today. If there is a next time, his wife will now know to begin the visitor visa application at least three months ahead, as that was a deep disappointment for the both of them that she missed sharing his experience on the day. He phoned her every night to relay the events of his day.</p> <p>He stayed on in Melbourne for a week and a half, hoping she might be granted a visa and could fly over to join him. Their intention was to fly on to Queensland to visit his 86-year-old old sister as his wife has yet to meet her. We now hope that opportunity has not been lost forever. </p> <p>Dad would like to thank the Facebook supporter from the last article, who cheered him on and barracked for him to fly here and carry out his dream. He did it – and will never forget the experience. He will talk about this to the end of his days.</p> <p>We’d like to share a few photos of the day with you, as so many of you wrote such kind words of support and said you wanted to know how the day turned out.</p> <p>The first picture (scroll right in the gallery above) is of dad’s tram ride on the way to the Dawn Service. You can see by the smile how quickly he fell in love with the trams and we made sure he did a LOT of tram riding in the week he was here.</p> <p>The second photo is of Dad and his granddaughter (my daughter) at the Shrine after the service. This visit would never have happened if not for my daughters' organising flights and contacting the RSL to find out how to arrange for him to join in the Parade.</p> <p>The last photo is Dad’s ride in the Hummer in the Parade. </p> <p><em><strong>If you have a story to share please get in touch at <a href="mailto:melody@oversixty.com.au">melody@oversixty.com.au</a></strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/03/video-shows-what-it-is-like-to-raise-grandkids/">Touching video shows what it’s like to raise grandkids</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/life-lessons-from-grandparents/">Top 10 life lessons kids learn from grandparents</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/10/quotes-about-siblings/">9 heart-warming quotes about siblings</a></em></strong></span></p>

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My dad wrote this letter to me from the frontline – I was 18 months old at the time

<p><em><strong>Lynette Flinn, 73, shares a very special letter that her father wrote her when she was just 18 months old whilst he was fighting in New Guinea during World War II. </strong></em> </p> <p>This letter was written to me by my father whilst stationed in New Guinea, around the year 1944. I was only 18 months old when my father wrote this letter to me to explain his decision to become a soldier in case he didn’t return home. He thankfully did, and lived to be 90.</p> <p align="center">***</p> <p>TO MY BABY DAUGHTER:</p> <p>Dearest Lynette</p> <p>The thought has just struck me that you are fast approaching the age when you must be trying to puzzle out why your Dad is not around. I feel that some sort of explanation is due to you, so just in case I am not around in later years to explain personally I am putting my case before you in the hope that you will forgive me not being there with your dear mother to attend to the thousand and one favours that a young lady like you most certainly deserves.</p> <p>When you were quite a tiny baby and lived in a little world all of your own, your Father decided to become a soldier, though to be honest at the time, he wasn't quite sure he was doing the right thing by you and your Mother.</p> <p>But a voice inside kept telling him it was the right and only thing to do.</p> <p>Now after two years of soldiering he finds that the voice told him the truth. For it was on those rare and delightful occasions when he was able to go home to this Baby and her Mother for a few days' leave, that he truly realised how precious are the possessions he is defending, along with thousands of other Fathers, all cogs in the machine which will someday make this world a worthy dwelling place for our daughters. For there are people in the world today who have so far forgotten the teachings of one who said "suffer little children to come unto me" that they must needs make war and attempt to kill, or enslave all those that oppose their ideas. If we had not left our homes to go out to stop them, you would have found yourself in a land ruled by hate and fear instead of inheriting the joys and freedom which are your birthright as an Australian.</p> <p>This is hardly the legacy I would leave my daughter, and so that she will at least be able to enjoy the liberty and privileges that my father passed on to me. I with all the other fathers am far from the sunshine of those we love.</p> <p>God grant that we may soon return, our job well done.</p> <p>Your Loving Dad</p> <p>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/life-lessons-from-grandparents/"><em>Top 10 life lessons kids learn from grandparents</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/5-types-of-grandparents/"><em>There are 5 different types of grandparents – which one are you?</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/parents-and-kids-who-look-identical/"><em>10 pics of parents and kids who look identical</em></a></strong></span></p>

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My memories of war will always remain

<p><em><strong>Stan Beazley, 92, served with Australian Imperial Force from 1942-1944. These are his memories of his time in war.</strong></em></p> <p>I joined the army on the 19th February 1942 when I was 18. I remember the day vividly because it was the same day Darwin got bombed. I was in Victoria at the time, nowhere near what happened, but it was still too close to home. I remember the newspaper headlines calling out “Australia under attack” and we were, so I enlisted in the army to fight for my country.   </p> <p>I was a country boy with farming responsibilities so I was exempt from the army. But when I came of age and finished helping my parents with the harvest at the farm that year, I went to join. I left my parents in a hole but fortunately my sister took my place and did a good job.</p> <p><img width="287" height="430" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/19036/stan-beazley-copy_287x430.jpg" alt="Stan Beazley - Copy" style="float: left;"/>So I went to serve with the Australian Imperial Force. I was stationed in Darwin as part of the Australian General Transport Company (Ushers Mob). I didn’t want to be a driver, I wanted to be a foot soldier, but when I went in to the army they asked anyone who had a driver’s licence to step forward and I did. So they put me in transport.</p> <p>I was in the army for three years and experienced 22 air raid during my time. I’ll never forget the spitties in the skies, you never forget that. I once saw a plane crash down in Darwin but luckily the bloke escaped in a parachute. There was always something to do. As a driver I delivered bombs, ammo, petrol, supplies and personnel. Or you had to do maintenance on the track or it was your turn in the cook house. But we were always on guard, always carrying our weapons. You needed your rifle and bullets of course all the time. The enemy could come at any time so you could never relax, even when you were off duty. We weren’t in constant fear but you had to be prepared.</p> <p>I remember the day I was discharged. It was a big surprise to be coming out as the war hadn’t finished yet! But the army was running out of food so they discharged 35,000 blokes. I didn’t ask to go, but one day they told me I was getting released from the army so I did. I would have stayed on but with only my sister helping my parents at the farm, I had to go back and help my family. It was hard work, at the harvest. After being in the army for three years, I felt I was doing more for the farm than my country!</p> <p>For me Anzac Day is very important. We must show respect and remember those that didn’t return to the war. I used to go to the marches in Melbourne. One of my mates would take me on the day, it was such a thrill and the crowds were fantastic. Of course, we used to have a get together after and it was great to see the boys again. But one by one they have all disappeared. From my unit of 12,000 blokes, I am the only one left alive. It does make me sad and I’m quite amazed I am still here. </p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/life-lessons-from-grandparents/"><em>Top 10 life lessons kids learn from grandparents</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/5-types-of-grandparents/"><em>There are 5 different types of grandparents – which one are you?</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/parents-and-kids-who-look-identical/"><em>10 pics of parents and kids who look identical</em></a></strong></span></p>

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