ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia’s most important national occasion.
It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they soon took in that name endures to this day.
Anzac Day is a day when Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war.
Next BAS due
2 responses so far ↓
1 Kevin V. Russell // Apr 29, 2008 at 9:53 am
I don’t know why we celebrate ANZAC Day. Personally I find it offensive we are commemorating the invasion of a foreign land, the people of whom with we had no quarrel. What I find even more offensive is the manner in which ANZAC day has been hijacked by politicians seeking to ingratiate themsleves with their constituents. Most of them have never experienced war and the few who have don’t go about beating their chests about their patriotism. People forget (or they simply don’t know) that it was the failed armistice of World War One (the war to end all wars) that gave us the distaster of World War 2, the atomic age and the bombing of civiliians at Hiroshima. In recent years I have a made a conscious effort ot avoid the media on ANZAC day because of all the drivel that gets spoken about it.
2 admin // May 3, 2008 at 8:28 am
Hey Kevin, ANZAC day is a day that Australians HONOUR our war veterans, regardless of the politics, or the reasons for going to war. Maybe politicians are taking advantage of the opportunity to blow their own trumpets- that’s what politicians do. Kevin, just consider what so many fine and brave young Australians have done to defend the freedom of this nation – maybe you should express your opinions to the politicians that have TAKEN AWAYthe freedom that our soldiers have fought for