Pittwater RSL 2026 Anzac Day Commemorative Address given by Captain Darren Crabb, CD
Good Morning everyone.
I served 18 years, in both the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force as an F-18 Fighter Pilot. I came to Australia in 1996, hired by the RAAF to help defend our country as they were short of F-18 Pilots. I served with 77 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown, and as an operational fighter pilot. I was also tasked to train new fighter pilots. I have also had the privilege of providing F-18 fly pasts for Anzac Day commemorations over Sydney Harbour and along George Street.
Darren Crabb 'Buster' 1998 - RAAF
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Meteor, Temora 2006
Following my RAAF service, I was chief pilot of the Temora Aviation Museum where I displayed vintage jet aircraft for 25 years. I am also a corporate pilot, flying the Gulfstream 650 business jet world-wide.
I am honoured to address you today, and importantly, I’m pleased to see many of our young generation in attendance.
Today, April 25th, we gather to remember the sacrifices of all who have served Australia and our Allies in all conflicts, from the turn of the century to today.
2026 marks 108 years since the end of WW1, 81 years for WW2, 74 years for the Korean Conflict, 53 years for Vietnam, 15 years for Iraq, and 5 years for Afghanistan. While some of these numbers seems too large to comprehend and are beyond living memory, others are very recent and vivid. Even more so, with the World and Middle East events that have unfolded since February 28th.
My words will hopefully cause all of you to reflect, but importantly for our younger attendees, I’d really like to drive home the importance of appreciating everything we have, and regrettably take for granted, in Australia. We should reflect every day, and not just be confined to Remembrance Day, 11 November, and Anzac Day, 25 April. The proven adage that ‘those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it’, is so evident today.
My personal connection with the significance of remembering sacrifice began with my own family history, and while this relates to the small town of Borden, Saskatchewan in Canada, it could equally apply to any town or city in Australia. Canada is one of Australia’s Allies and a member of the Commonwealth.
I have been a History ‘student’ for just over 50 years, and it is this study of military and political events that helps me understand, and formulate informed, independent opinions on what has shaped the world. Like myself, your first step is to delve into your own family history to find out if you have family that have served, and take an inspired interest in what they achieved and contributed.
My father was also a RCAF fighter pilot and we had the fortune of being posted to West Germany in 1972, for the start of a cumulative 12 years of service in Germany, ending in 1991. Ironically, Germany was our enemy in both WW1 and WW2, but is now a strong Allie with us in the North Atlantic Treaty organisation (NATO). Canadians were stationed in West Germany as part of our NATO commitment.
As an 11 year old in Germany, I was able to visit and study the actual battle fields that I only ever read about, ranging from Waterloo (1815) through WW1 (1914-1918) and WW2 (1939-1945). This was by far the best education I could have ever had, that can’t be learned in a classroom, or now on-line and with AI.
As a high school student of 16, in my quest for knowledge, I happened to pick up a book called “The Suicide Battalion”, which related to the 46th South Saskatchewan Regiment that formed near our family home town during WW1. The book recounted the battles and sacrifices that the members endured over four years or fighting from 1914-1918.
The 46th Regiment were aptly named the Suicide Battalion as they suffered a 91.5% casualty rate! In all, 5,374 men served with the Battalion and of these, 4,917 were either killed or wounded.
The revelation for me was at the end of the book it noted that one Borden family was severely affected. The 6 Tallis brothers from Borden were highlighted. Having known my Great Grandmother, and that her maiden name was Tallis, this really shocked me. She never spoke of this, and by the time I read the book she had passed, so her personal information was forever lost. It was through my research that I was able to fill in the blanks and enlighten my family.
I never had any idea that my 6 Great Uncles had patriotically served. 4 were killed in Flanders and the 2 that returned were shell-shocked and gassed. Thus, WW1 really claimed all 6 of my Great Uncles.
Our family was not unique during WW1. So many Australian families lost entire groups of fathers, sons, brothers, daughters and sisters. During WW1, Australia's total population was about 4 million. Of this population, 416,809 enlisted, or about 10% of the entire population which included about 40% of the male population.
The sad reality of the carnage of WW1 is that it was the actions of 3 cousins, King George V of Britain, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Tzar Nicolas II of Russia that took the world to war.
I have made two pilgrimages to Flanders to pay respects at all four of my Great-Uncles’ grave sites. We recorded and photographed the graves, then my wife, Sandra May, honorary secretary of the Pittwater RSL Sub Branch, put together a commemorative booklet for our Canadian relatives that would never get to visit this hallowed ground.
A mere 20 years after ‘the war to end all wars’, Europe was thrust again into a second world war from 1939-1945. The root causes transpired through the 1920-30s and were more of a socio-political nature combined with territorial ambitions.
In keeping with the adage I mentioned of ‘doomed to repetition’, in 1938, the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, with other world leaders attempted to placate Hitler’s territorial ambitions by ceding the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. In return, Chamberlain was given a paper assurance by Hitler that no more territory was required on his part. Chamberlain returned to Britain, waving the paper, famously decreed that we have ‘Peace in our time’.
How wrong he was, and we are currently seeing this same historical scenario unfold in Ukraine, where some think that by ceding four ill-gotten territories to Putin, that he will stop his territorial ambition to recreate the old Soviet Union. This is only 88 years after ‘peace in our time’, but currently has no end in sight.
I have taken my passion for history, and aviation and turned them into my own personal service. Over my 15 years in the RCAF and 3 years in the RAAF, I achieved my personal goal of becoming a Fighter Pilot, being the best at my craft. The pinnacle of my service was my posting in West Germany from 1988- 1991. This was the height of the ‘Cold War’ in Europe. My base was 15-20 minutes flying time to the enemy border and we had the daily threat of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical warfare with Russia.
As an illustration of sacrifice, throughout the course of RCAF operations from 1950-90 in support of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Canada paid a heavy price in the preservation of peace. To put it concisely, our Cold War operations resulted in more fatalities due to realistic military service than in the Korean Conflict, the Balkan conflicts, the Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, and Peacekeeping – combined.
For aircrew deaths alone, the number was 926, which averages 23 combat pilots per year from 1950-90. Imagine losing two acquaintances every month for 40 years.
In the end, we won! NATO collectively defeated Russia, the Berlin Wall fell, and peace broke out over Europe. I even got to meet some of my ‘enemy’ Mig-21 and Mig-29 Pilots. The Soviet Union fractured with decades oppressed soviet states seeking independence from Russia. That should have been the end of it!
However, as we are ‘doomed to repeat’, Putin has become a relentless aggressor, trying to impose his Socialist/Communist rule again on the ‘free’ states, while threatening NATO/ European countries with possible nuclear war. This has only taken about 36 years for people to forget, taking peace and prosperity for granted. Europe was most stable during my time there because everyone knew the rules and consequences.
I’d like to leave you today with three challenges, especially for the young generation that will be our Australia of the future:
1 Take an active interest in your family history, and if military sacrifice occurred, remember it daily,
2 Take an active interest in world history and politics. You must ensure you are independently informed so you can help steer Australia in the future, and not repeat mistakes of the past,
3 If you can combine your passion with service to your country, I commend you to it. This helps ensure that all of the sacrifices, of all who served before you were not in vain, and help to safeguard the democratic freedoms that we enjoy in Australia.
Lest We Forget.
Pittwater RSL Anzac Day 2026 Dawn Service photos by Michael Mannington OAM, Community Photography and PON Features
Newport Cenotaph 2026 Anzac Day Service Address given by Colonel Andrew Condon, CSC (Retired)
Ladies and Gentleman, Students, children, and I especially wish to acknowledge here today any members of the ADF, Veterans, War Widows and families of veterans. Good morning. It is great to see so many people here this morning. To you all, thank you for being here
On the 25th of April each year, Australians and New Zealanders all round our two nations, and where ever they are around the world, commemorate this special remembrance occasion - on the anniversary of the first military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Anzac Day 2026 marks the 111th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli, a campaign that would cost 9,000 Australians their lives, with another 19,000 wounded.
At each Anzac Day we gather to remember, and pay our respects for our fallen Service men and women of all wars, to remember each generation of fallen Anzacs, with commemorative services held in suburbs and towns, at dawn, at street marches, at church services and other community services, as we are here - at Newport this morning.
As we stand here today, 103,000 Australians have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation, while young Australian's continue to serve our nation in the Middle East and other places around the world.
And while we remember the fallen for their ultimate sacrifice, we also remember the families of the fallen - for their enduring sacrifice.
These sacrifices - allow us who live - to enjoy our inherent freedoms and way of life. Freedom of speech and freedom of association are basic fundamentals of life we in Australia take for granted. We have great public institutions, we vote, and we don’t have to live in fear of surrounding violence, there is no compulsory military conscription for all 18 year olds. Education and welfare is available for all.
These are great privilege’s current generations of Australians should not take for granted. Just as we are learning in current times, we cannot take for granted our energy, fuel, and food security.
We need to remember the original Anzacs, and those that followed, who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms, our values, and our way of life.
The Anzacs are our generation’s inspiration for working together with the same Anzac spirit of endurance, courage, compassion, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship, to work hard to ensure their sacrifices are not in vain.
And so every Anzac Day is about remembering and reflecting on the sacrifice of others.
We do so without triumphalism and fanfare,
We do so respectfully. We do so quietly.
“Let silent contemplation be your offering”
As a nation we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice with 103,000 names listed in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on the walls of the Hall of Remembrance.
But importantly, names of locals are also remembered locally on honour boards, usually in locations such as local cenotaphs, or Memorial halls, or Churches, or schools, or RSL Clubs or in other community centres such as Surf Clubs, as is the case here in Newport.
In 1914 at the outbreak of WWI, Newport was a small, semirural coastal community with a population likely under 500, limited road and maritime infrastructure, and basic residential and commercial buildings.
Newport derived its name from being a "new port" for steamers carrying passengers and cargo.
Yet, 25 Newport locals enlisted during WWI in service of our nation.
Sadly 7 would not return to Newport, including three Porter brothers, and Cpl A Henderson who had been awarded the Military Medal for his action with the 7th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery on the Western Front in France 1917.
In 1939 at the outbreak of WWII, Newport was still largely a holiday destination with few permanent residents increasing to less than 1000 with the opening of the Roseville and Spit Bridges in 1925.
Yet 66 Newport locals enlisted in service of our nation during WWII, 6 of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice, and did not return to Newport.
Anniversaries are opportunities to remember and reflect on specific sacrifices. 111 years after the landings at Gallipoli in WWI, the Newport community can reflect and remember the sacrifices of their own.
One of the names on Newport Roll of Honour is JE Booth. James Edward Booth was 22 years of age, of Anglo heritage with fair skin, blue eyes and fair hair, and had worked as a miner. On 4 August 1914, Australia declares war. Recruiting centres are quickly established over the following weeks and on 22 August, James Booth, enlists at Randwick Barracks and is allocated to the 1st Battalion of the 1st AIF as a private, enlistment number 688.
On 25 April 1915, the 1st Battalion landed in the 2nd and 3rd waves, passing through the first wave, and pushing up the slopes at Gallipoli. Private Booth was reported initially as wounded, then missing, his body was never found.
For us here today, we need to ensure future generations know the stories of the Anzacs and those that followed and do not take for granted the freedoms and quality of life they will have.
We need to ensure future generations, our grandchildren and their grandchildren, understand the sacrifices made by previous generations, and still being made today in places like the middle east.
We need to tell our grandchildren they cannot take our life style for granted.
We need to remain vigilant and be prepared to again defend our way of life and our values. Thus Anzac Day is our day each year as a nation to remember - and just as importantly – to remember as a local community.
"The remembering must go on, and may their names livith for evermore.
For a soldier’s worst fear when dying on a battlefield, is that they be forgotten.
But they will only be forgotten, if the remembering stops."
And thus we say,
"We will remember them"
"Lest we forget"
Newport Cenotaph Anzac Day 2026 photos by Colonel Andrew Condon, CSC (Retired)
Avalon Beach RSL Requiem for Anzac Day 2026 given by Commodore Richard T. Menhinick AM, CSC, RAN, Rt’d., President Avalon Beach RSL Sub Branch
“ANZAC is not merely about loss, it is about courage, and endurance, and duty, and love of country, and mateship, and good humour and the survival of a sense of self-worth and decency in the face of dreadful odds.”
These words are etched prominently on the walls at the Sir John Monash Centre at Villers Bretonneux, France on what was the Western Front in the First World War. They are from an Anzac Day speech delivered by Sir William Deane in 1999, when he was Governor General.
It may well be 111 years ago now, in the early dawn, that sailors and soldiers of Australia and New Zealand landed at what is now Anzac Cove. But the attributes of courage, endurance, duty, love of country, mateship, good humour, self-worth and decency, resonate down the years to us, here in Avalon Beach, in this early dawn.
This is my 4th Dawn Service Requiem as President of the Avalon Beach RSL sub Branch. In 2023 I spoke that:
“The current state of the world means that sadly days such as this are perhaps more brooding or contemplative.
In 2024, in my main service speech, I focused in on Eddie Jaku who I had the immense privilege of meeting back in 2012. The ‘happiest man on earth”. He was born in Germany in 1920. His family considered themselves German first; Jewish second.
As a survivor of Auschwitz, he made a vow to himself to smile every day. His message was that the most poisonous word in any language is hate. His view was that this word should be expunged from our vocabulary.
And last year I noted the sad fact that only 45% of the world’s population live in democracies and the majority of these are somewhat or severely flawed.
Again, it is worth observing, celebrating and giving thanks, that we Australians and New Zealanders are amongst just over 6% of people in the entire world that live in what is considered a full democracy. So just 540 million of the over 8 billion people alive today, worldwide, live in full democracies. That sadly is it.
So, this brings us to 2026. It has been a tough few months here at home, as it also is overseas. Horrors and terror were unleashed in Bondi, and stresses on social cohesion are polarising people. Overseas the phrase from Shakespeare’s’ play Julius Caesar to “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war” sadly best epitomises events that continue in Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East.
Much focus is on what divides us, not what unites us.
So, what would the young Anzacs of 2015 make of all this? They would, I surmise, be somewhat confused. As I mentioned last year, their average age was around 26. Grand strategy was of little interest to them. Doing their duty for their mates, those each side of them, was foremost in their minds. As they approached the beaches, or due to a navigational error, the cliffs of Gallipoli as it turned out, they were normal people, sons, brothers, fathers thrust into an absolutely abnormal event.
This remains true of every Australian and New Zealander who has fought and served their nations in the armed forces ever since. As with those from 1915, todays service men and women and their families have so, so much in common with those young men, who at about this time of day, first saw the vague outline vertical cliffs and crevices of Turkiye in the early dawn.
What links us personally to these sailors and soldiers of 111 years ago is what has followed.
For Navy it is the quiet professional business of a ship or submarine on operations or at war. It is the ghostly reflected light on young faces from lights, computer screens and radars, the buzz of radios, the anti-flash hoods, gloves and fire proof uniforms that cover all but our eyes. It is the shock and noise of gunfire, the ship heeling to the explosions, the euphoric moments of victory and success as epitomised when the German cruiser Emden was sunk at the Cocos Islands in 1914, when the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea in 1940, and more recently the overwhelming victory at sea in the First Gulf War in 1991 after 55 non-stop days at sea.
These moments are matched by those of terror, despair, raw courage and duty as things go so badly wrong, as they did for HMAS Sydney in 1941 off Western Australia and HMAS Perth in 1942 in the Sunda Strait, to mention just two of many. You win big 4 or lose big at sea, often it is out of the control of those who are in the ships and submarines, but the indominable Anzac spirit is the same.
I have personal experiences of war at sea, and the absolute professionalism of the Australian sailor, but I know from those I have served with and those in the RSL Sub Branch with me, that the very same attributes are mirrored in the air and on land.
The crews in the bombers and pilots in the fighters of Air Force, illuminated faintly by searchlight beams and the flash of anti-air fire over Germany and occupied Europe and again in the Pacific went through all this on a daily basis for months and years and again in Korea and Vietnam. Today we have an airborne early warning and control aircraft and personnel in the United Arab Emirates. Think of them and their families here at home this morning.
On land, the sheer weight of casualties across our wars and the vast nature and destructiveness of the battles on the people involved and the landscapes is hard to comprehend. From the First World War to Iraq and Afghanistan the reality and horror, the euphoria, is matched equally by despair and terror. Confusion is the constant of land combat, made even worse today by the sheer complexity of the battlefield, the range of the weapons and the 24/7 nature of operations.
However, one thing is certain, and it is reflected in Sir William Deane’s words. The Anzacs of 1915 to 2026 would be united in telling each and every one of us that their sacrifice was so that attributes of courage, endurance, duty, love of country, 5 mateship, good humour, self-worth and decency, should resonate down the years to us, not just here in Avalon Beach in this early dawn today, but across Australia and also New Zealand now and into the future.
In Australia, buffeted by headwinds and the increasingly swirling currents of world events and politics, I reckon that the Anzacs across the span of the last 111 years would have a simple message for us this morning. That is that we can each, individually, honour and truly respect their sacrifices on this day, at this dawn, by reflecting on the stark truth that to remain the lucky country, we cannot be the nonchalant country.
This doesn’t just include spending an adequate amount on Defence but includes us paying attention to the complexities of national resilience, where we have the resources, to be resilient and self-sustaining at home. A dependency on other nations, most of them not full democracies and most with values at odds to ours, for things we can actually be self-sufficient in, does not result in resilient supply chains, nor a secure and prosperous Australia. It makes us awfully vulnerable.
We are indeed blessed and have much to be thankful, proud and quietly but determinedly patriotic about. But we need to focus on this. And it starts with each of us as individuals. I believe it is what those original Anzacs, way back in 1915 would have held as national qualities, as they fought and died for us.
So, this morning, please reflect on their sacrifices and those of countless others since. Together today, we can consider what it means to serve, to sail or fly away for months and years, to leave loved ones behind and give thanks for those who fought, those who survived, those who were injured mentally and physically, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice at sea, on land and in the air. The families also suffered and continue to suffer, and we need to hold them also in our hearts this morning.
The Australian Defence Force of today, the Navy, Army, and Air Force, perform abnormal things on a daily basis. The Anzacs did this on 25th April 1915. We can’t thank them or those who have followed at sea, in the air or on land enough. Thank you so very, very much for turning up this morning. Every year it is an amazing sight to behold, looking out at all of you in the early dawn. Veterans and those serving in your Navy, Army and Air Force today need some cheer right now. Things are tough, but overwhelmingly the people are as good as, or even better than ever. I assure you they are very appreciative of the support that you give to them and their families, of which attending this service this morning, is a very outward and visible sign.
Lest we Forget
photos: Avalon Beach RSL Club
Avalon Beach RSL 11am March and Service
The 11am Commemorative Service held at Avalon Beach RSL was preceded by the annual March where mothers and sons walked together, the mothers wearing their fathers’ medals, the sons wearing their own. Among those seen were mother and son, Barbara and Tom Warren, again honouring their family and their service.
Barrenjoey High School students, Avalon Public School, Bilgola Plateau Public School and Maria Regina students marched, as did members of the Zonta Club of the Northern Beaches, Rotary, Avalon Bulldogs players, and Avalon Beach SLSC members, side by side over the generations.
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Avalon Beach SLSC members mustering to March
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Avalon Bulldogs players and support crew - coaches mustering to March
Senator for New South Wales, Jess Collins, attended the Avalon Beach Commemorative Service with husband Ben, joined in all the hymns and laid a wreath alongside Rear Admiral Lee Gordon CSC RAN, who gave this year's main Address.
Deborah Carter, President of the Pittwater RSL Sub Branch, along with fellow Pittwater RSL Michael and Inese Carrodus, Service Member, Brian Heal, who celebrated his 100th birthday on 16 August 2025, attended the combined Sub Branch Service, with the Pittwater RSL President giving the Ode this year. Colonel Andrew Condon, CSC was also in attendance and marched with the Veterans. World War Two RAF Pilot Roy Smith, now 102 years young, also attended as an Avalon Beach RSL Sub Branch member. Cr. Rowie Dillon represented the Mayor and council, while Mackellar MP, Dr. Sophie Scamps was in Timor-Leste as part of an Australian parliamentary delegation.
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Rear Admiral Lee Gordon CSC RAN and Senator Collins
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Pittwater RSL Sub Branch Members, Brian Heal, Deborah Carter, Michael and Inese Carrodus
One lady laying a wreath as part of the main Service was Beverly Grantham, on behalf of her father, Herbert Stanley Geldard M.C., who fought in WWI and WWII.
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Beverly Grantham and family.
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In Honour of Herbert Stanley Geldard M.C. - a wreath of many flowers
The Pittwater House Army Cadet Unit provided both the Colour party leading the March and the Catafalque Party. Sam Shaw and members of The Big Sing led the hymns while Bilgola Plateau PS students gave a wonderful rendition of The Last ANZAC led by Sophia and Stella Julis. The Barrenjoey High School Concert Band, conductor Rebecca Heather, played without missing a note. Mater Maria College bugler Sam Morgan again played the Last Post and Reveille perfectly.
The service was led by Commodore Richard Menhinick, AM, SCS, RAN, re’td, President of Avalon Beach RSL Sub Branch, assisted by Paul Sinclair, President of the Avalon Beach RSL Club Ltd.
It was a true celebration of community.
RAN Lieutenant Commander Tamara Sloper-Harding OAM, Vice-President Avalon Beach RSL Sub-Branch, introduced Rear Admiral Lee Gordon CSC RAN to give the 2026 Anzac Day Commemorative Address, explaining their had both joined the Navy as teenagers.
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Commodore Richard Menhinick, AM, SCS, RAN, re’td, President of Avalon Beach RSL Sub Branch, RAN Lieutenant Commander Tamara Sloper-Harding OAM, Vice-President Avalon Beach RSL Sub-Branch, Rear Admiral Lee Gordon CSC RAN, Deborah Carter, President Pittwater RSL Sub Branch - photo taken after conclusion of 2026 Commemorative Service
Avalon Beach RSL 11am Commemorative Address given by Rear Admiral Lee Gordon CSC RAN
In the dawn of April 25th 1915 the first wave of 1500 troops from the Australian 3rd Brigade landed at the beach we now know as ANZAC Cove – the first of almost 60,000 Australian and New Zealand troops to participate in the Gallipoli campaign. Transported across oceans and delivered in darkness to a land they barely knew, these young, untested men advanced steadily onwards and upwards; towards withering gunfire, across impossible terrains and a determined enemy.
On this day and in the months to come, the ANZACs demonstrated the best of Australia – they faced this terrifying ordeal with courage, camaraderie and honour. They did not shirk their duty.
The tough and bitterly fought campaign for possession of the Gallipoli peninsula lasted for eight long months. The troops endured constant danger, deprivation and the extremes of weather. Over a quarter of a million soldiers from Turkish and Allied forces were killed or wounded. 8709 Australians were killed in action or died of wounds or disease at Gallipoli – about one in every six personnel. 2721 New Zealanders were killed in action or died of wounds or disease – almost one in every three New Zealanders who participated in the Gallipoli operation.
The courageous efforts of the ANZACS are echoed in the selfless efforts of generations of defence personnel. We remember and honour those who served, and those who died; in the air, in the muddy trenches, and in the lonely seas and oceans. The challenges of air operations in New Guinea might differ to those combined arms operations in the fields of Vietnam or the convoy escort in seas and oceans around the world. But the characteristics of the people – courage, mateship, service and sacrifice – these characteristics do not change. That is why, over a century after the events at Gallipoli, they can continue to inspire us.
It is also important to remember and honour the families and friends of those who served. They supported and loved them and, for many, their loss is enduring.
It is right that on ANZAC Day we take pride in their efforts, reflect on their character and, most importantly, remember their sacrifice. They were ordinary Australians, but they did extraordinary things. Our nation was built on the foundations laid by citizens such as these.
Australia’s current Navy, Army and Air Force personnel always aim to live up to the standards of service set by the ANZACS, as I speak there are many Australian personnel deployed on operations around the world, from South Sudan to the Middle East, through to our region in South East Asia and the Pacific. They are conducting operations against pirates, drug smugglers and insurgents, conducting fishery and maritime security patrols, assisting communities by rendering safe old ordnance and supporting border security operations.
The first ANZACS showed what Australians can do in the most desperate circumstances. Those qualities have been demonstrated again and again throughout history, in operations around Australia and around the world. The service and prosperity of Australia; the extraordinary deeds by ordinary Australians; the quality of the endeavour; these are the things we remember on Anzac Day.
Now, thankfully, a great many Australians have no personal experience of war, no way of knowing the anguish of enforced separation, or the greater grief of separations made permanent.
But numbers alone cannot adequately chronicle this nation’s sacrifice. For each of the fallen and the surviving had a family and friends whose lives were enriched by their love and diminished by their loss and tragedy. Each added to the life of a city suburb or country town. Each worked before enlistment as a teacher, a farmer, a labourer, a nurse, a doctor, a clerk or one of countless other occupations which add to the prosperity and the richness of a nation.
And yet, although denied the full span of human existence, who can doubt their achievement.
These were Australians whose lives were lived in deeds, not years, in sacrifice, not in heartbeats in service, not in the turned pages of a calendar.
These men, perhaps strangers from another time, have given us a legacy from the past on which to build the future. And by today’s act of remembrance, we build a bridge across time.
There’s an ancient saying: ‘’Heroes have the whole world for their tomb and in lands far from their own’’.
Of all the nations on earth, surely this is most true of our Australia.
It is our ideal, and a title to be earned through effort and application to a cause. Australians know that in times of great hardship, when all appears lost, there will be another Australian who stands up to assist and be there. Each of us hopes that when the circumstances call, we will have the courage to fight on for our friends and families too. It is an ongoing challenge to reflect on today. We honour the memory of the Australian sailors, soldiers, airmen, chaplains, nurses and many civilians who have served throughout history and the spirt which was borne in this nation.
To that end, the story of ANZAC and the ANZAC spirit, not just at Gallipoli 111 years ago, but throughout our history, will always remain close to our hearts.
Today, by recognising the ANZAC spirit, both what has been lost to us and what has been gained, by renewing our pledge to remember, we declare, to our lost: ‘’The Anzacs are not missing. They are here.’’
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Brian Friend OAM and Avalon Bulldogs players
President of Palm Beach RSL Sub Branch Mark Ferguson OAM
MP for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby and President of Palm Beach RSL Sub Branch Mark Ferguson OAM