ANZAC DAY

Anzac Day begins at dawn, around 4.30am, in the chill of an autumn morning. The dawn service occurs at the same time of day that Anzac forces landed at Anzac Cove, and is an incredibly moving, and solemn service. The sound of the Last Post, the only sound in the dark, is amazingly emotional and poignant.

Later in the morning, ex-servicemen and women march down the streets of Australia's cities and towns. Anzac Day is marked in some way in just about every town in the country - no area has not lost people in war. Most towns have some form of memorial, listing the names of those who served, and died. Flags fly at half mast. Men and women march under the banners of the units they fought and served in - these days it is not the injured who ride in cars, but those who are too old to march any longer. Still, any who are able to participate in some way, no matter their age, do. The marches conclude with services, with the Last Post played, before two minutes silence, broken by the playing of Reveille, and the reading of The Ode.

Anzac Day is not only a day of remembrance, it is also a day of celebration, and reunion. After the marches have concluded, RSL clubs around the country are filled with those who are catching up with the former members of their units, those they have fought with in the past. Games of two-up are a traditional activity.

The face of Anzac Day is changing as Australia enters the 21st Century. Each year, fewer and fewer soldiers march, as their numbers grow older and pass away. Fear has been expressed by some, that as those who fought in wars die, the relevance of Anzac Day will be diminished, and newer generations will forget its importance. However, Anzac Day crowds over recent years have reached record numbers, and Anzac Day appears to be in no danger of fading from importance. More and more, it is the grandchildren of those who are no longer able to march, who march in their place. Children take the medals that their grandfathers earned, and pin them on their own chests, marching proudly in the ranks of their former comrades. Parents line the streets with their kids, watching those marching past, explaining to them just why the day is so important. As long as they are able to learn of the sacrifices made on their behalf, recognise the importance of their deeds, Anzac Day should never fade into irrelevance.