Monday 27 April 2015

ANZAC Day 2015

ANZAC Day is a very significant day in Australia.  ANZAC stands for  Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On the 25th of April 1915, the ANZAC soldiers formed part of a large allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey.

Although this expedition failed in military terms, this campaign has become the central national story to many Australians.  In the old sense of the word, the Gallipoli campaign has become the stuff of myth.

I can't help but think that many current Australian politicians hope that by standing by the memorials to the now long gone ANZACs, that they themselves will be cast in a better light.  I hate to tell them, but it's not working.

These two pictures tell only a tiny part of the story of ANZAC day in Melbourne - the first a gathering of people from the military, who more than most, must feel at risk when politicians use other peoples bravery for party political purposes.  But there is somebody with a truly civilian umbrella, and a person walking past who may or may not be going for a coffee.

The second image says something rather wonderful and strange about the country I now call home - on this Australian day of days it has become traditional for two football clubs to play each other at the MCG:  Essendon in red and black and Collingwood in black and white.

Solem words in the morning and sport in the afternoon.  The sacred and the profane.  The past and the present.   The significant and the trivial.

Even after nearly two decades here, it still seems the strangest day of the year.


   

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.  SM

9 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    I really miss ANZAC day... it was very weird watching a service at the Cenotaph as these here Brits talked about the UK losses at Gallipoli - which of course there were... but even the good ol' beeb couldn't get round the fact this is really the day of the Kiwis and the Emus and when I heard the Aussie anthem my heart thumped.
    YAM xx

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  2. Quite a variety in your day..Nice to "lighten up " in the afternoon..Enjoy your week..

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  3. plenty of these 'mix' days in the US, too.

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  4. Tex is right, there are plenty of these days here in the US!! Hope your week is off to a great start, Stewart!!

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  5. I'd never heard about ANZAC day - interesting. I also like the shot of the two walking in the rain. I'm always a bit leery about taking my camera out in the rain, but you've tempted me!
    Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/04/french-corner-bakery.html

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  6. Hello Stewart, I assumed your ANZAC Day was like our Veterans Day.. Great shots, enjoy your day!

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  7. We're in Brisbane...my son got to play in his school band at the city parade. I'm actually from the US, but it was a lovely Aussie experience. Amazed at how early people wake up just to pay their respects and reflect.

    http://www.kidcandoodle.com/selfies/

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  8. Oh dear. you did not get a good day for ANZAC day. Love the last shot.

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  9. Interesting "different" take on a veterans memorial holiday. I get it about the politicians...boy do I ever! But I think it important to always honor our vets, whatever the outcome. People should care about the sacrifices they made.

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