Anzac Day

 

Today is a special day for New Zealanders and Australians - ANZAC Day. It commemorates the  assault on Gallipoli during World War One where thousands of young Aussie Diggers and their Kiwi comrades in arms gave their lives fighting for the Empire.The combined Australia New Zealand Army Corps is what ANZAC stands for. It is a public holiday and there are dawn services all over both nations to remember those who paid the highest price for our freedom.

I have always wanted to get to Turkey to spend ANZAC Day on the beach at Gallipoli. It is a special day for our family too as it happens to be my birthday. I feel it would be a really great way to mark the occasion of being a year older.

If you are interested in the story behind the day there is quite an old movie starring a very young Mel Gibson telling the story of the events leading up to the disastrous landing. It is quite a good watch.

It is also a tradition to eat ANZAC biscuits at this time of year. They were originally sent in food parcels to the soldiers as they kept quite well. They are an oaty coconut treat and really quite tasty. There are hundreds of recipes online if you want to try your hand at baking them.

So please spare a thought for that generation of young men lost as you go about your Thursday. Recent events suggest that our freedom requires a constant effort and I am grateful that those young men served on my behalf all those years ago.