Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
People from all walks of life came together this morning at dawn to commemorate the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps' soldiers – known as Anzacs. While Anzac Day commemorates all the battles where Australian and New Zealand soldiers have fought side-by-side it is the April 25, 1915, landing at Gallipoli and the bloody eight-month stalemate that ensued that created the Anzac legend. And that isn't about the loss of the 8709 Australians or the 2721 New Zealanders who were killed, but the legend came from the actions of all our soldiers and the way they conducted themselves against the odds in the impossible clash.
They shaped the identities and created a lasting bond of brothership between our two nations and ultimately informed our future. Many generations since have lived lives completely removed from the atrocities of war. We've had a clean run of peace and freedom. We get to surf when the cyclones bring us swell, we consider our rugby stadiums as places where battles take place among a chosen few and we can spend time with our families as and when we want. We consider Australians our mates and our favourite rivals at the same time. We can travel the world and are welcomed by those we meet. And we can return home without constraint.
These privileges were earned on the Gallipoli Peninsula. And we still benefit from them today. "Lest we forget" is as much about remembering the fallen as it is about remembering the reason we enjoy the lives we do.
Put that into the context of recent global developments and it's a worrying space to be in. While it may feel a bit like watching kindergarten bullies jostling over a toy, we have to remember that these buffoons actually have the ability to do real damage. That the world can be held to ransom by a bunch of inflated egos is madness and a long way from what the Anzacs fought for. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
See you at the beach ... Derek
PS We missed those last two cyclones (and heard Cook was one of the best ever), but looks like there will be another roll of the dice before winter kicks in. More here.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: