ANZAC 2007

yah yah, ANZAC is a special national day to all Australians... but how many of us, who belong to the younger generations, know exactly what ANZAC really means?

I happened to get into a page about ANZAC. Most of the kids (primary/elemetary school age!), said about ANZAC as, "It is a day to memorise all Australian soldiers who fought outside Australia and died!"...

Me, I know that they do sell ANZAC biscuits in supermarkets everywhere in Australia (I think so!), which are hard like rocks (or close to it!), and most of the time, quite expensive. I believe they use the money (or profit) from selling these cookies, to do something with ANZAC (hope so, or we should sue the people who make them! They are not for the weaks to chew, unless you consider dipping these hard cookies in hot tea/milk to soften them first before putting your teeth to the test...)

(I bought some before, when they were on sale, to save money!)


Being gifted with a short (very short) memory, I had to search over and over again, until I found the true meaning of ANZAC. (They said most terrific scientists are often absent minded and short memory like that, so I don't feel "handicap" at all, hehehe....).

Here is it:

- ANZAC: Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

- 25th of April, 1916, the first anniversary of ANZAC, to commemorate the first military action ever of the ANZAC at Gallipoli Peninsula, in which the ANZAC group was supposed to help the allies (included French, Russia, Italy, UK and US) against the "Central Powers" (Austria-Hungary, German, Ottoman Empire) by knocking Turkey out of the war. Over 8000 Australian soldiers were killed at Gallipoli. The total of about 20000 Australian soldiers killed by the time the WWI ended.


Don't know about other states of Australia, but here in Melbourne, 99.99% of shops, stores, etc, closed down for this anniversary. The big male organised a swimming trip for the whole family, but the place was closed. We later headed to a big shopping plaza closed by, it was closed too (as other big stores, shops all around Melbourne).


Turned on the TV (while doing the housework!), and saw some old soldiers tottering in some ANZAC march in London. Took me awhile to figure out that these gentlemen did not come from the first WW, but the second...

Complicated isn't it, the way small nations joined the allies to fight in a big war! It is in truth, a "give and take" business, "I join you in fighting a war now, so that you would help my country later when we need your help...".