Anzac Day commemorative address

Story Added : July 2006

Presented by Group Captain Tony Behm We meet here this morning, not to glorify war or praise victors, but to remember those who have served our country during times of conflict and crisis, and to reflect upon their selfless sacrifice. Anzac Day is a tradition, paid for in blood to celebrate our freedom. It is the day that not only do we salute the Anzacs, but we also invigorate our national spirit and pride.

Ninety-one years ago a group of volunteer Australian and New Zealand soldiers found themselves wading ashore before dawn at a small beach on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Many of these men were only teenagers, some as young as 16 – about the same age as many here. All were anxious to prove their courage and national identity. My grandfather was one those who landed and survived but was later wounded in the Somme in France and fortunately went on to survive the Great War. Many here today are also touched in some way by those who served in World War I.

Over the eight months following the landing, those young Anzacs underwent a “trial by ordeal”. In total 36,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers were wounded or killed at Gallipoli. But in those terrible battles, young Australians earned a reputation for courage, self-reliance and mateship. Their experience drew Australians together as a nation and established our national character. The standards they set and the Anzac spirit have been handed down ever since to all the Australian sailors, soldiers and airmen who followed them; from World War II, to Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, the Gulf War and many peace keeping operations in the Middle East, Pakistan, South East Asia, Africa, Bougainville, Timor, the Solomon Islands and more recently in the war against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Over 160 Nudgee Old Boys have paid the supreme sacrifice in wars since 1915. They lay buried in twelve countries across three continents.

That same spirit is represented amongst the diverse group of Nudgee veterans gathered here today. We should not forget the families, relatives and friends of those Australian service men and women who died for their country, and neither should we forget those who have directly or indirectly borne the sufferings of war or peace keeping.

To those Nudgee Old Boys here this morning who experienced those days at Nudgee during World War II and remember 65 years ago the bombing of Pearl Harbour, those memories no doubt will remain vividly with you forever.

The Anzac spirit forged at Gallipoli will never be forgotten. This is why Australians come together every Anzac Day. We do it to remember the Anzacs and their achievements. We should remember them not as old soldiers from a distant war, but as the young Australians they were in 1915. We must be proud of our heritage.

Lest we forget.

Old Boys from 1941 who attended were: