Welcome to Anzac Day!

Anzac day commemorates many of our brave young men who sacrificed their lives on the beaches of Anzac Cove in Turkey. There were thousands of Australians (& Kiwis) killed on this dreadful battlefield. As a small nation - these times of war were so devastating to the Australian people. Many sons and brothers and fathers never returned from the battlefield, laying their lives down for freedom and for their country!

Another important battle that Australia remembers was the battle of Kokoda – for some 4 months in 1942 many brave young Australians fought in atrocious conditions and against a vastly superior enemy in Papua New Guinea – but because of the tenacity and the bravery of these young Aussies the Japanese Imperial army suffered its first defeat! More than 600 Australians were killed and some 1680 wounded during what is perhaps the most significant battle fought by Australians in World War II.

However the battle of the Kokoda track was one of the deciding factors in saving Australia from invasion in WW2. The Japanese needed Port Moresby to launch an attack on Australia - the fierce battles that took place during this time defeated and ultimately changed the direction of the war.

There is a memorial erected in Kokoda today with four large granite stones. Each with an inscription – COURAGE, ENDURANCE, SACRIFICE AND MATESHIP. The four qualities of the slouch hatted diggers that fought off the invading force!

The diggers were respected throughout the world for their mateship and their courage in the face of impossible odds. The young Aussies at Kokoda knew they were outnumbered and outclassed - but they stood their ground in unreasonable odds - they understood that they were fighting for the future of the world. Their endurance in dreadful conditions - their resolution to never give up finally won them their victory.

The sacrifice of these young men ensures our nation today as a free and open place - we look back at their bravery on a day like today, Anzac day and remember the literal sacrifice they paid – many parents lost their sons - children lost their fathers - as a part of the cost for us to remain a free country.

The diggers relationships with each other and their commitment to their mates was one of the most ensuring memories of the Australian soldiers wherever they fought.

Their loyalty and dedication to each other became one of the strength to the Australian war machine. As a fighting force we were quite small – much smaller than the US or Great Britain and the need to rely on each other was so great.

During the battle of Kokoda the Aussie contingent had such a strong bond of mateship that each of them watched out for each other – one of our greatest attributes in battles is the selflessness of mateship.

The victory that they won, they won together, each playing their part, not individual heroes leading the group. This is a part of the Australian culture – we are not a nation of individual heroes but each looking out for each other. In contrast in the United States there is always a hero - in every American disaster movie there is always a hero who saves the day!

Perhaps one of our quintessential movies is ‘The Castle’ - a small man taking on the Bank and winning.  Our culture is not about heroes - even our sporting heroes are our mates!

Some of Slim Dusty’s most popular songs are about mateship!

The Aussies were known for their slouch hats, their mateship, their easy going manner and their practical jokes. The Australian diggers at Kadoka fought off the enemy - even though they were outnumbered and the Japanese were far better equipped. The tenacity and bravery of these young Australians won an amazing victory…

There has been an interesting phenomenon that has emerged over the last few years as Anzac day rolls around each successive year to see the thousands of young men and women who make a pilgrimage to Anzac Cove to remember their heritage. The majority of the pilgrims are too young to remember the conflict that these things represent, but, that each year, more and more of this current generation find themselves drawn to participate signifies a shifting of values and a seeking after a true and lasting heritage.

As the gathered crowd listen as tributes are delivered to those who paid the ultimate price, it is evident that as the stories of heroism and mateship are rehearsed, the younger generation are absorbing the values and the triumphs of their forebears.

As one looks at the many of the emerging trends in our nation it is easy to be discouraged and despair but perhaps these things are a door through which a new generation may emerge with fresh hope and renewed vision.

Australia has a destiny to play on the worlds stage that is yet to be fully realized. Perhaps this emerging generation may play a part is us rediscovering our God ordained purpose as a nation!

Australia del Espiritu Santo,”  - “Southland of the Holy Spirit”.