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Our Special Anzac Day Memories

OwlunarSenior Contributor25 Apr 2020, 12:17 pm AEST

Our Special Anzac Day Memories

I am sure we all have a ANZAC Day Memory that is special - I would like to share one of mine and hope other people can add theirs

This was 1993 - and such a day I have never forgotten and enjoy the memory not only on ANZAC Day but often

When I was young the Dawn Service at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance was only for men and women could not attend - but things changed and that glass ceiling had been shattered just that little bit and eventually I decided to attend

It was a clear morning when I got up and drove into the shrine - and although it was always easy to see that morning I found it in the dark - not flood-lit as usual.

I gathered with others for some warmth from the Eternal Flame and heard the old soldiers telling their stories - when one finished another started.

One of the took my arm and said "Come on lovey - I'll find us both a good spot where we can watch" - in the growing light I turned to him and realised he was blind and led him to one of the garden plots where he could sit - and I could stand and see everything above the crowd

I can't remember the service exactly - really caught up in my memories of my grandfathers - and the really sombre but beautiful atmosphere as the dawn slowly broke and Venus was bright and clear in the eastern sky that morning

Then it took a long time to walk through the shrine and drop our poppies into the urn - and finally outside into a brilliant day - from the shadow to the light. I spent the rest of the day driving around areas where I had grown up during my early childhood

We can't always visit the past and it's memories in person because of different circumstances in our own lives - this year - a global crisis has caused us to be social isolated.

We shall survive this crisis as we have survived many others - and our spirit shall continue

And we should share our stories too

I am not good at tagging as people know but I shall do my best

Dec

We shall remember them

@Zoe7 @Former-Member @Faith-and-Hope @Bunniekins @Snowie @Sans911 @Teej @utopia @BlueBay @TAB @MDT @Shaz51 @Adge @Ant7 @eth @Mazarita @Jo-anneJoy @NatureLover @JoJo73 @Maggie @Appleblossom @outlander and moderators

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In response to: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

TABSenior Contributor25 Apr 2020, 3:20 pm AEST

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

https://youtu.be/E-vLhwNUp2w
@Owlunar best version , well I think it is

In response to: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Unknown userMember25 Apr 2020, 3:38 pm AEST

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

No @TAB my husband was not on the Melbourne, which struck the Voyager during night exercises between the two RAN warships in 1964. 82 sailors aboard the Voyager were killed, many trapped in the bow. There was little time for them to escape as the Ship sank within minutes.

I do know a survivor from the Voyager however. He is in the same group as my husband, and goes to an annual reunion we all go to each year. He was a stoker (below deck) on the Voyager at the time of the crash/sinking. He has told me the story of how another sailor (an engineer) was below deck valiantly hoisting other sailors onto his shoulders and out through a narrow hatch to escape. The fellow I know was one of those and he escaped. Sadly the other guy who saved so many, did not survive.

Vietnam veterans were treated atrociously by the Australian public upon their return to Australia. The Vietnam war was not a popular war and the public did not approve of us being involved. But it was not our sailors/soldiers/airmen's fault, they were sent there. It was horrible how hordes of protestors lined the streets and jeered, spat at and jostled with the returned servicemen. Perhaps its little wonder that so many Vietnam Vets turned to alcohol in a big way, and a great deal were diagnosed with PTSD.

A great deal of my more recent memories around Anzac Day revolve around drunkeness and abuse.

My husband joined the navy as a junior recruit only a week prior to the Voyager sinking. He told me that when his Mum heard about it on the news, she rang the Navy recruiters and demanded that they return her son. The Navy was not a safe place for an 15 yo boy she said.

@Owlunar @Snowie @Appleblossom @Maggie @Zoe7 @Sans911 @Faith-and-Hope @Zoe7

In response to: Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

SnowieSenior Contributor25 Apr 2020, 3:44 pm AEST

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

@Former-Member

My husband was in the Air Force for around 10 years and served his country. We teach our children the importance of ANZAC day and to honour all past and present service men/women. It is up to us to educate the next generation so that they can pass it on to theirs.

We stood in the driveway this morning and I was happy to see other families out there too.

Much love and hugs to you today and always 💕💕

In response to: Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

TABSenior Contributor25 Apr 2020, 3:45 pm AEST

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Geez sorry for loose effort at research ie none @Former-Member
Sorry re abuse. Hope wasn't from person still with.
Ive led a Strange Life .

In response to: Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Unknown userMember25 Apr 2020, 3:48 pm AEST

Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

Not a problem at all @TAB ... its funny that many people remember the Melbourne, but not so many The Voyager. Where as it was the Voyager which sank. Abuse .. yes current over many years.

In response to: Re: Our Special Anzac Day Memories

TABSenior Contributor25 Apr 2020, 3:50 pm AEST