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Anzac Day is a tradition in Australia that, I sincerely hope, will continue.
For as long as I can remember the 25 April mean’t Mum baking Anzac biscuits and watching the Anzac Day Parade in Sydney from 9.00am until lunchtime.
As a child I watched groups of Boer War veterans march, then later ride, in taxi’s in the parade. Large groups of WWI veterans paraded. WW2 veterans were there in force.
As a teenager I watched three veterans from the Boer War (1899-1901) be driven down George Street. My Great Great Grandfather William Butler had fought in that war and his uniform is now in the National War Memorial in Canberra.
There are no Boer War veterans left now.
In my 20’s I watched, lump in throat, as several WWI veterans paraded. One old man marched stiffly, but proudly, in his uniform. Two brothers, veterans of the ‘Lighthorse’ rode on horseback to the sheer delight of the crowds wearing their famous hats with the feathers. The rest, a small group from WWI, travelled the route in taxis waving at the crowds.
Over the next few years that old man no longer appeared to march in his uniform. Those two brothers rode their horses one year, they didn’t the next. And the taxis carrying those old men from places like Gallipolli, Egypt, The Somme, The Western Front, carried fewer old men.
The veterans from WW2 marched in force. As did the vets from Korea. And, thank god, those men who had been to Vietnam.
As the 90’s moved along the ranks of the old men remaining from 1914-1918 grew thinner. Now, none are left today..
Today, in 2007, we watch those from WW2 carry on the tradition. And those from the Korean war (1952), Vietnam, The Gulf War (1991), and, today. Unfortunately, we are still sending young men to war in 2007.
We thank all of them. The soldiers, the nurses, the doctors, the journalists, the sailors, the airmen and airwomen. And, of course, the drivers of those taxi’s who year after year make it possible for those veterans to take part in this important day.
Wouldn’t it be great though if we only had to commemorate past wars, and not the new ones.
Copyright © 2007-2008 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.Popularity: 12% [?]
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Family Life by Wendy on April 20th, 2007 9:47 am
Two days ago my four year old son had a trip to the local swimming pool with his nursery school class. It was his first time in a pool. At four years of age?. Well, he has suffered from eczema since the age of 9 months so we have kept him away from anything likely to irritate his skin, including chlorinated water. Until now.
I was glad to see that the majority of children there could handle themselves in the water without swimming aids. James, on the other hand, was ,nervous and not too confident. Understandably as he had not been in a pool before. But, with my presence and the well organised activities, he waded in and took part. I was so proud of him. He will be commencing swimming lessons asap.
My parents took me to swimming school when I was 18 months old. It was at a pool centre at Castle Cove, near Willoughby, and from then on I learnt the skills of surviving in the water. My partner, Arnold, grew up in Belfast and to this day cannot either swim or enter water beyond his knees. Ok. So Northern Ireland is not given to ’swimming weather’, but having lived there, I noticed that many children are taken to swimming lessons. He never was, as his parents are terrified of water. So, they never bothered to have him taught to swim. This is something I intend to correct.
Because my parents made such an informed decision for me, because they wanted to ensure that I would be safe in a pool/beach/river, they took the time to have me taught the most basic of survival skills…how to swim.
Throughout my childhood I was able to enjoy the wonderful beaches of Sydney; to paddle a boat at Lane Cove River Park without fear of drowning; and to join and swim for not only my school but Freshwater and Dee Why Swimming Clubs each Saturday and win ribbons and medals for my efforts.
I intend for James to have the same opportunities. To enjoy a swim during the summer, in a river, a gorge or the beach.
Australian culture is based mainly on our lifestyle. The outdoors. And swimming is a major part of our culture, afterall, we have produced the worlds greatest olympic swimmers…Annette Kellerman, Dawn Fraser(the Goddess of the water), Shane Gould(my hero), Murray Rose, Lisa Forrest, Ilsa and Jon Konrads, Keiran Perkins and Ian Thorpe.
Yet, despite our ‘water culture’, small children, toddlers, continue to drown in backyard pools in Australia. Why? because people install pools in their backyards and do not bother to have their babies taught to swim. They fall in and…
Being able to swim is as basic a survival skill as being able to walk and talk yet so many parents ignore this.
Are you a parent? can you swim?, no?, then get taught. If you don’t have the guts then at least allow your children to attain this skill.
It may save you one day…but it will definately save them.
Teach your children to swim!.
Copyright © 2007-2008 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.Popularity: 13% [?]
