Bridging Continents: ANZAC Day Through My Eyes

Disclaimer This post is a personal reflection and does not represent the views of any official organization. The interpretations and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

Lest We Forget: ANZAC Day 2025

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

My first encounter with ANZAC Day was in 1987. As an international college student in Perth, I stood among the locals at my first ANZAC Day parade — unsure of what to expect but deeply moved by the solemnity and unity of the moment.

In the lead-up to that day, two significant works from my English reading list helped shape my understanding. The first was The One Day of the Year by Alan Seymour, a poignant exploration of the emotional complexities surrounding ANZAC Day in post-war Australia. It captured the tension between remembrance and societal change, offering a compelling introduction to the broader significance of the day.

Later that year, I read A Fortunate Life by A.B. Facey. More than a memoir, it was a powerful account of hardship, endurance and the quiet strength of the human spirit — including Facey’s own experiences at Gallipoli. These readings, alongside the lessons from my History class on World War I and the Gallipoli campaign, left a deep and lasting impression. ANZAC Day became not just a chapter in history, but a legacy of courage and sacrifice that continues to shape identity and values.

I remember visiting Kings Park War Memorial and standing before the eternal flame. Etched into the stone were names that startled me — Borneo among them. To see my birthplace acknowledged in such a solemn space linked me personally to that shared chapter of sacrifice. In that moment, I wasn’t just observing history — I was part of its memory.

In 2009, a visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra deepened that connection. Walking through the galleries, reading letters from the front and seeing the Roll of Honour brought the scale of sacrifice into sharp, emotional focus. The reverence in the Hall of Memory, the silence around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — it all reinforced the sacredness of remembrance.

ANZAC Day is more than a national commemoration. It is a timeless reminder that freedom, peace and dignity often come at great cost. The values the ANZACs embodied — courage, mateship, sacrifice, endurance — remain deeply relevant today.

In 2025, as the world continues to navigate uncertainty, we look to the ANZAC spirit as a compass for resilience and hope. We remember not only those who served at Gallipoli, but all who have worn the uniform since. And we honour those still serving today.

Let us continue to remember.

Let us teach our children.

Let us keep the stories alive.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning—

We will remember them.

Lest We Forget

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