Author // Shannon Edwards, Place New Farm
It’s the day all Australians stop and reflect.
A day to take a moment in our busy lives to remember the bravery and strength of the service men and women of our country.
Anzac Day is close to the hearts of many of us with the annual parade, held here the centre of Brisbane City, paying respects to those who served and died for Australia.
This year’s Anzac Day Parade will pay special tribute to surviving World War II (WWII) veterans and the Spanish Armada.
We spoke with Allen Callaghan, the Honorary Media Officer for the Anzac Day Parade Committee, who shared with us why the day is so important.
How did you become involved with Anzac Day?
Once upon a time, I was a journalist for the old Brisbane Telegraph and then ABC where I often did the Anzac Day coverage.
From there, I gained a service background through doing Infantry in the Army in 1958.
I trained at Wacol in the 11th National Service Battalion and from there went to the Byron Scottish Regiment with the 41st Battalion.
After my long-term of service, I joined the National Servicemen’s Association as their Honorary National Media Officer where I now help organise parades and provide commentary as part of the ABC team.
Tell us about the Anzac Day Parade?
The first Anzac Day Parade was held right here in Brisbane City in 1916, not long after the outbreak of World War One (WW1), in commemoration to all of those who served Australia.
This year the committee has set up a ‘Tent of Honour’ in King George Square where veterans will be invited to sit so that the first salute of the parade will be to them.
Those who are still able to march in the parade will march, and do so proudly.
Can you tell us about any of the veterans who will seated in the Tent of Honour?
One of those veterans will be Lieutenant Olga Anderson.
A young lady from Malaney, Olga served as a nurse in WWII first of all at a military hospital in Kangaroo Point but then in Papua New Guinea, and then in Lae.
Her speciality was caring for Australian soldiers with Scrub Typhus and similar tropical diseases which killed almost as many Australian servicemen as the enemy.
Her work was very important, but serving in a forward hospital was also very dangerous.
Olga is quite a woman and at 100 years old she’s still as alert and intelligent as you could wish.
Why do you think the day is so special to many?
Anzac day pays tribute to those who served Australia, and particularly those who died for Australia.
With the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, Australia had a small population of only 4.9 million people and suffered the highest casualty rate (62,000 killed and 125,000 wounded).
Every one of those people was a son, father, a brother or a mother, daughter or sister – The war really affected each and every Australian household.
Anzac day is still very personal for Australians, with the wars since the two World Wars having direct effect on a large population of families – Malayan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
These days Anzac day is just as important as it’s ever been and it's only continued to grow.
It’s important to remember that Anzac day is about honouring tremendous service.