“We should never forget” - Walker delivers dawn service address

On this day marking the Centenary of Anzac, before dawn in 1915 the ANZACs stormed ashore in a place now known as ANZAC Cove. 

It was our first major contribution to the world as a nation – Australia was only 14 years old. 

Two thousand ANZACs were dead by the end of that day, but through perseverance, courage and comradeship they held their ground. 

It was certainly a baptism of fire. The campaign lasted eight months, until the 35,000 ANZACs remaining were evacuated. 

We should never forget the deeds, courage and fortitude of these original ANZACs. 

At Lone Pine, in just over two days, from 6 August 1915, seven Victoria Crosses were awarded for valour to Australians. They established a tradition and national pride that we should be proud to follow.

These Anzacs and many thousands of other men and women went on to fight in frightful battles in Europe, where small village names are etched in our history, Fromelles, Bullecourt, and Mont St Quentin to name a few. 

We remember the terrible losses of the trench war in Europe and the brilliant victories of General Sir John Monash and the Australian corps in France in 1918.

Of course , there are many other names from other wars where Australian lives were lost in the cause of a better world. 

We remember the airmen who flew in hazardous missions over Europe in World War 2. 

The gallant pilots who fought in the victory at Milne Bay. 

We remember the sailors and submariners who were away from home for long periods on hazardous missions fighting to keep the vital sea lanes open, HMAS Sydney, Midway and Coral Sea. 

There were battles near our home land in the inhospitable terrain of New Guinea. 

We remember those who became Prisoners of War.

But in these terrible battles, young Australians earned a reputation for courage, self-reliance and mateship. 

The experience drew Australia together as a nation and established the national character. 

The standards that they set and the ANZAC spirit, have been handed down ever since to all Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen who followed them. 

From WW2 to Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam, the gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan and many peacekeeping operations in the middle east, Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Africa.

In this Centenary year and in all my reading of World War One and the original ANZACs, some very clear images emerge. 

Firstly, they were men and women of great character, resilience, selflessness and perserverance. 

They looked after each other and would never consider leaving a comrade behind. 

Officers shared the same hardship and danger equally with all their soldiers.

Secondly, they possessed an enormous desire to do their duty for their country. While they were not professional soldiers, once convinced that the war was for a just cause, they made the commitment and got on with the job with energy and initiative. They took great pride in showing what Australians could do and matched it with the best in the world and they were successful as a result.

Finally, the First Australian Imperial Force was a society, a community, based on equality, tolerance and a fair go for all. 

They did not care where a person was from, their religion, or the colour of their skin, only that they did their job well. Well led, the ANZACs adapted quickly and were second to none.

The spirit of ANZAC is as relevant today to all of us as it was one hundred years ago. We need to be vigilant that our society remains one that values freedom, tolerance and affair go for all. 

We need to maintain their sense of commitment, courage and perseverance to get through the tough times. 

The need for us all to look after each other is probably greater now than at any other time in the past and ANZACs continually showed this sense of humanity and compassion. 

The ANZACs focused on what was really important as we do today in our everyday lives and the qualities exemplified by these ANZACs are of great relevance to use here today. Lest we forget.

John Walker