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Air Marshal Angus Houston
Chief of Defence Force
ANZAC Day, our national day of commemoration, is a time to pay tribute to Australian soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen who have served our country.
We do this not to glorify war, but to honour and to give thanks for their service and to remember more than 102,000 Australians who gave their lives for our country.
It is a day we demonstrate how much as Australians we appreciate life and how highly we regard those who are willing to lay down their life for our nation, its people and our values.
Lieutenant-General
Peter Leahy
Chief of Army
It is not an exaggeration to say that the Australians who fought at Gallipoli 91 years ago made history.
Many would go further and say that in the furnace that was Gallipoli, and on the Western Front, Australia’s soldiers forged the Australian nation.
In an age in which, sadly, war was seen as a proving-ground for national character, it was their bravery and tenacity that moved Banjo Paterson in 1916 to write… “Now we know what nations know; now we feel what nations feel.”
As once again on ANZAC Day we say “Lest we forget”, let us remember not only the courage, the toughness, the resourcefulness and the loyalty to their mates of the Australians who made history at Gallipoli, but the same qualities that have been displayed by their successors in all the conflicts in which, sadly, we have been engaged.
Even as we mark yet another anniversary of the ANZAC landing, Australian men and women are living up to the ANZACs’ example in Iraq and Afghanistan, adding lustre to the record written by our armed forces in peace and war, in peacekeeping and in natural disasters - a record of which we are proud and which we must never allow to be diminished.
Vice-Admiral
Russ Shalders
Chief of Navy
This year I travel to Gallipoli to commemorate the 91st anniversary of ANZAC landings.
While we had fought wars before Gallipoli, what was different on 25 April 1915 was that it was the first major battle we Australians had fought as a nation.
ANZAC Day does not celebrate military victory. We choose to commemorate 25 April as a day when the conscience of a young nation was scarred by losses of young men in the service of their nation.
The losses were felt across the whole community and represented a tragedy with which all Australians could associate. We remember those who served; those who joined together to generate the formidable fighting forces that were the basis of Australia’s pride then, and now.
We think of the families, those who stayed behind. They battled their own difficult problems in tough times and supported those who fought. We salute their endurance and strength.
Above all, on Anzac Day, we honour those who died for us, for our nation Australia and for peace.
Anzac Day is a day for the people.
It is not a day of military parades and military might.
It is a day of gatherings of veterans, of reunions, of services, of community involvement, of reflection and honoring our forebears. We celebrate the legacy that those who fought at Gallipoli left us.
Those who follow them are strengthened and enriched by their example.
We will remember them.
Air
Marshal Geoff Shepherd
Chief of Air Force
We can be proud of the reputation of the ANZACs and we can be proud of being Australian and serving our country.
When I travel around the Air Force units I continue to be impressed by the dedication and professionalism of our Air Force airmen and airwomen and the reputation we maintain.
Their commitment, skill, teamwork and courage at home or on operations around the globe demonstrate to all, the high standards that we live and work by.
The ANZAC values and ethos continue to guide us today.
The Air Force has served in many theatres of operation from WWII, Korea, the Malaya conflict and Vietnam, to name just a few.
Although we have seen many changes over the decades, aircraft and equipment, technology and even uniforms, the one thing that has remained constant has been the values that Air Force members live by.
The brave men who established our great tradition of service and sacrifice in the air continue to provide inspiration to those who follow in their footsteps over 90 years on from our first major involvement in conflict as the Australian Flying Corps.
In recent years we have undertaken a wide variety of different peacekeeping, peace making, humanitarian and warfighting operations.
In all of these the RAAF has performed exceptionally and we continue to today conduct and support operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Air Force remains on call in support of our own nation at home in operations such as Larry Assist and support to the people of Katherine in the recent floods.
Just last week we responded at short notice to unrest in the Solomon Islands.
We in the RAAF have upheld the great tradition of the ANZACs over the past 85 years.
I am very proud of all Australians who have served the nation in the Royal Australian Air Force over the years.
They encapsulate the true spirit of the ANZACs.
Especially, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect this country and our allies and those who have died helping our neighbours in times of tragedy.
I see Anzac Day as an opportunity to commemorate the commitment and dedication of those who have served before and those who serve now. |
