ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day has been commemorated by Australians since the first anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in 1916. Today, Anzac Day also honours those who have served through recent conflicts and on peacekeeping missions, as young veterans join with veterans of earlier wars. On 25 April each year we pause to honour the service and sacrifice of all our veterans who have fought in wars, conflicts and peace operations.
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Learn more about the Anzac tradition and those who have served our country with these resources:
Western Downs Western Front (DVD)
The ghost of a local soldier killed in World War I helps a modern-day girl find purpose in her life. An original stage play performed in Miles for the Anzac Centenary.
Anzac Girl: the war diaries of Alice Ross-King by Kate Simpson
Anzac Girl: the war diaries of Alice Ross-KingIt was in 1914 when Sister Alice Ross-King left Australia for the war. Nursing was her passion, but Alice couldn’t have imagined what she would see. Using extracts from Alice’s actual diaries kept in the Australian War Memorial, this true story captures the danger, heartache and history of a young nurse. She would one day become the most decorated woman in Australia.
The Anzac Billy by Claire Saxby
The Anzac BillyDuring World War I, Australian and New Zealand soldiers on the front were sent Christmas care packages in a tin billy. This is the heartwarming story of a little boy packing a billy with all his father’s favourite things, even though he realises there is no way that the billy can actually go to a particular soldier.
Anzac Sniper: the extraordinary story of Stan Savige, one of Australia’s greatest soldiers by Roland Perry
Anzac Sniper: the extraordinary story of Stan Savige, one of Australia’s greatest soldiersA fascinating and complex portrait of Lieutenant General Sir Stanley George Savige. A man of character and compassion, Savige was a quiet outsider who founded the war veterans’ support charity Legacy.
Anzac Animals by Maria Gill
Anzac AnimalsRead the tales of mascots and working animals that helped Anzac soldiers, sailors, pilots and medics do their jobs in wartime. You’ll meet donkeys, dogs, horses, camels, even kangaroos and monkeys!
Bastard Behind the Lines: the extraordinary story of Jock McLaren’s escape from Sandakan and his guerrilla war against the Japanese by Tom Gilling
Bastard Behind the Lines: the extraordinary story of Jock McLaren’s escape from Sandakan and his guerrilla war against the JapaneseIn command of a 26-foot whaleboat called ‘The Bastard’, Jock McLaren sailed into Japanese patrolled ports in broad daylight, shot up the supply vessels and piers, then turned tail and rain. McLaren made many solo forays into Japanese held areas to gather intelligence. But his extraordinary feats went beyond secret missions. McLaren even removed his own appendix without anaesthetic using a mirror and an ‘ordinary knife’.
Danger Close: the battle of Long Tan (DVD)
Danger Close: the battle of Long TanAugust 18, 1966 South Vietnam. For three and a half hours, in the pouring rain, Major Harry Smith and his company of 108 young and inexperienced Anzac soldiers are fighting for their lives, holding off an overwhelming force of 2,000 battle-hardened Viet Cong.
The Battle Within: POWs in postwar Australia by Christina Twomey
The Battle Within: POWs in postwar AustraliaHeadaches. Dizziness. Can’t sleep. Bad dreams. Follow the stories of 15,000 Australian prisoners of war from the moment they are released. Their struggle to rehabilitate themselves and win compensation and acknowledgement from their own country was just the beginning.
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn them. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. From For the fallen by Laurence Binyon, 1914.
Lest we forget…