At Mawson we woke on ANZAC day to winds of 60 knots and low visibility which meant that we could not have our dawn service at the flagpoles.
Instead, we hung the flags in the wallow and recalled those who had served in past wars and those who did not return.
The ANZACs, and the soldiers before and after them, demonstrated that war couldn’t take away individual dignity, resilience, mateship, courage and community. The ANZACs were a group that was representative of a multicultural and diverse Australia — there were Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander soldiers, sons of Greek, Italian and Chinese immigrants and female nurses. Together they created a community and a spirit that demonstrated the best of Australian culture in the worst of circumstances.
The challenge that I take from the ANZACs: how do I focus on developing those aspects of a person that we still value so highly — mateship, friendship, courage, resilience — and allow everyone dignity and a fair go? How does the team at Mawson demonstrate these characteristics?
Following our dawn service we had a ‘gunfire’ breakfast in the mess, followed by a very relaxing day of movies, reading and a very Australian menu of ANZAC biscuits, pie floaters and pizza.