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ABC Open: Australians recognise past sacrifices on Anzac Day

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Man in war uniform and hat stands beside gardens
ABC Open: Australians recognise past sacrifices on Anzac Day

SUBJECTS:  History

YEARS:  9–10


Share the memories of Australian war veterans and discover their thoughts about Anzac Day's significance.

In this clip, veterans living on Queensland's Gold Coast express their ideas and feelings about what Anzac Day means to them.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What was the original purpose of Anzac Day and how has it changed? In 1916, the first Anzac Day was observed as a commemoration of the landing of the Anzacs at Gallipoli during World War I. Over time, Anzac Day has become a time to remember all Australians who served in wars and peacekeeping operations.
  2. 2.Who does the elderly man at the beginning of the clip remember on Anzac Day? The young veteran says of his meetings with old diggers, 'It's just like we're mates, even though we've never met each other.' Why do you think people of different ages who fought in vastly different conflicts are able to form such a bond?
  3. 3.The Indigenous war veteran says, 'They [the military] never treated me any different.' To understand his comment we need to recognise that even during World War II, after 1940, the Australian government directed that only people of substantially European descent could enlist in the armed forces. Why do you think that, despite such discrimination, thousands of Indigenous Australians fought for Australia in World War II and later conflicts?
  4. 4.The man in the army uniform, who speaks twice in this clip, says, 'I am thrilled to see the way that the young people of this country are embracing it … the spirit of Anzac Day will continue.' Why do you think he is confident in this prediction? Do you think he is right? Why, or why not?



Date of broadcast: 2011


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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