25/04/2026
On this ANZAC Day, we pause in quiet recognition of those who served, those who fell and those who carried the weight of war long after the battles ended.
The origins of this day trace back to the Gallipoli Campaign, where the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps first stepped onto foreign shores in 1915. What followed was not victory in the traditional sense, but something far more enduring. Courage under fire. Mateship in the face of the unimaginable. A legacy forged in sacrifice that would come to define a nation’s spirit.
Today, that remembrance extends beyond Gallipoli. It honours all Australian and New Zealand service men and women who have served in every conflict, peacekeeping mission and act of duty since.
For me, this day is not only historical. It is deeply personal. It brings up feelings of my grandfathers, who served during World War II. Men of a generation shaped by hardship, resilience and duty. Their stories, whether spoken or held in silence.
I honour my father whose service stands as a continuation of that legacy. Different times, different battles, yet the same thread of commitment and responsibility.
There is a quiet understanding that runs through families who have known service. It is not loud. It does not ask for attention. But it is always present.
Today is not about glorifying war. It is about remembering the cost of it. The lives altered, the lives lost and the strength it took to stand when called.
For myself I am deeply grateful to all our service men and women past, present and future 💜