EACH ANZAC Day Australians collectively pause to reflect on the loss and sacrifice we as a nation endure during times of armed conflict.

What started out as a day to remember the fallen in the First World War now stands as an occasion when the nation laments the loss from all conflicts and as a time we say thank you to the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces in our name.

News Of The Area spoke to three veterans living in the Nambucca Valley about what ANZAC Day means to them.

Ron Donnelly, who lives with his wife Sharon in Nambucca Heads, was a National Serviceman and was sent to Vietnam as an Infantry soldier in 1969.

Ron told News of the Area, “Anzac Day is important to me at a personal level as some very close mates I was serving with during the Vietnam War were killed in action.”

Ron added, “I see their faces when I recite the Ode each ANZAC Day and I am thankful that I was not also killed.”

Nambucca Heads man Sean Norman served as an Infantryman with the Army in the 1990’s and deployed to Somalia on a peacekeeping mission where hundreds of thousands of people were suffering from famine caused by drought and clan warfare.

Sean told News Of The Area, “When I was on patrol in the heat of Somalia I used to think about how I took for granted the comforts of home such as a cold beer, a pizza and a pretty girl to talk to.”

Sean added, “I don’t do well in crowds these days so on ANZAC Day I stay at home, get up at 4:00am, open a beer, stream the last post through my phone and think about my ANZAC predecessors who had to live on bully beef while living in stinking trenches.”

Newee Creek resident Chris Ellicott served with the Army on two tours of duty in East Timor during 2000 and 2003 as a Peacekeeper as part of a United Nations led force.

Chris said, “On ANZAC Day I will attend the Nambucca Heads Dawn Service and the Main Service, then join other veterans for lunch in the RSL Club.

Chris went on to say, “For me ANZAC Day is a time when I remember my mates who died in the service of their country and those that have since passed away or are still suffering because of injury or illness caused during their time in uniform.”

Whatever you do on ANZAC Day this year, as a minimum, please pause and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and their families.

Lest we Forget.

 

By Mick BIRTLES