Anzac Day

I've been meaning to tell you about Anzac Day which is on 25 April and declared a Public Holiday.  It is a day set aside to remember and reflect on the Aussie and New Zealand men and women who have given up their lives in battles since World War I.

They are nick-named Diggers, one possible reason is it was a slang term used for people who were prepared to dig in and complete a difficult job.  Though there are a few other theories too.....

The day started early, I woke up and in my foggy twilight state I realised I could hear singing.  Dawn was breaking and in the stillness of the morning one of the day's many services was being held.  At the same time all over the country similar services were being held and poppy wreaths laid to honour the many lives lost at war.  It was a very moving start to the day.

I learnt from the radio shows that day about the avenues of trees.  These were started after the first world war when ordinary folk needing a place to reflect planted a tree for their lost loved ones.  Now all over Australia there are beautiful  long avenues of trees planted in loving memory of a life lost at war.  These places have a sense of calm and grandeur, a lovely place to sit and reflect.

 

In 'town' by the Botanic Gardens there is even a memorial trough in commemoration of the War Horses.  It is sobering and very moving seeing how everyone is now honoured.

Anzac Day is the only day in Australia on which Two-up can legally be played.  Two-up is a traditional Australian gambling game, involving a designated 'Spinner' throwing two or three coins into the air. 

Players gamble on whether the coins will fall with both (obverse) heads up, both (reverse) tails up, or with one coin a head, and one a tail (known as 'Odds'). It is traditionally played on Anzac Day in pubs and clubs throughout Australia, in part to mark a shared experience with Diggers through the ages.

The game is traditionally played with pennies – their weight, size, and surface design make them ideal for the game. Weight and size make them stable on the 'kip' (board)and easy to spin in the air. Decimal coins are generally considered to be too small and light and they don't 'fly' so well.

I promise the next 'post' will be more light hearted.