"The ANZAC Legend has an important role in shaping Australia's national identity" The Anzac war was the very first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. I strongly believe that ANZAC day has played a major role in forming Australia's national identity due to the many reasons which are discussed below. ANZAC day is remembered every day on the 25th of April, this is a day to remember all the fallen soldiers and all the soldiers who are still fighting for our country. As stated in source A "we gather in the cold and dark before dawn; wondering what to say and how to honor/ those whose bones rest in the hills and the valleys above us, and whose spirit has moved our people for a century." …show more content…
This is a service for the public not just for the army and there are three services on this special day those services are the Dawn services, commemorative marches and remembrance services. Anzac Day is celebrated all over Australia and New Zealand. WW1 has had a major impact on Australia's national identity, proof towards this being that all countries when they here Australia know about our war. It's a very emotional part of Australia's history as well as a big part of it this being because so many families where and have been impacted by it in some way and even the soldiers that survived have been left with lifelong problems. Research has shown that 4/5 Australians have had friends or family in one of the wars. "We aren't here to mourn a defeat or to honor a success, although there was much to mourn and much to honor in this campaign." Source A, this statement is very relatable to some. So many people still mourn the death of loved ones lost fighting for our country however instead of mourning what this quote is stating is that we should be happy and proud that …show more content…
Australia's national identity has been made by many events that have taken place however the most important event being the Anzac war, this is what shaped Australia, this war made Australia great again as it brought everyone closer together as everyone worked together and as a result new laws and rules came out, women had more rights and were allowed into the war to help fight for their country, however in saying this Australia was told to go to war by Britain as it's the mothering country so when Britain goes to war so does America and Australia. Before the war most people thought Australia didn't have much history, so they saw this as a chance to gain history. Australia's identity has grown over many years and still continues to grow as this year was marked as thee 100th year of Anzac Day so 100 years ago Australia went to war. So many different people around the country came together so many relationships were made from this war, families were made stronger than ever as everyone needed each other's support. Many soldiers suffered from this war when they returned home none of them were the same the divorce rate raised, and the domestic violence rate raised. In some ways
The ANZAC Legend ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACS, and the pride they soon took in that name endures to this day. The ANZAC legend began with the landing at Gallipoli on April 25 1915, signaling the start of the disastrous Dardanelles campaign on the Turk Peninsula. This campaign saw thousands of ANZAC fatalities before its conclusion in January 1916. Significantly, the ANZAC legend is the result of a devastating loss, rather than a great victory.
stage for the development of Australian cultural identity and the values, attitudes and beliefs of
The First World War or World War 1 was a conflict between Britain and Germany, which spread over Europe predominantly beginning on the 28th of July 1914 until the 11th of November 1918. AS soon as the war began, Prime Minister Andrew Fisher's government pledged full support for Britain in an effort to defend Britain or the “Mother Country”. As enlistment came up for Australian men, thousands people across the country rushed to enlist for what they thought would be an opportunity to adventure Europe with the war supposedly ending before Christmas. With the propaganda at the government’s advantage, they could easily manipulate the Australian’s public view on what life, as a soldier would be like. As the pain of loss began to strike the citizens of Australia, views on what war was like changed and reality began to hit. This meant enlistment around Australia was significantly reduced especially after Gallipoli where there were the most casualties, which hit Australia hard. As time grew on
Although, most of it is accounted by the war itself, the suffering of many Australian veterans had much to do with...
...at these several events in our nation’s history have demoralised our reputation to other countries globally. To make us known as a better country to other nations, we’ve completely abolished the White Australia Policy, gave back the aborigines their freedoms and we were also the first country in the world to give women rights. Australia today in present day is now one of the most multicultural societies on Earth, and we definitely follow our values of mateship, acceptance and freedom.
The only time Australia has come under direct attack from another country, was when Japan bombed Darwin and sunk a number of ships in Sydney, during World War 2. The question then has to be asked, why Australia has been involved in so many conflicts. A number of recent conflicts in this century come to mind, they include, The Boer War, World War One, World War Two and The Vietnam War. By far the conflict that drew the most outrage from Australian citizens was the Vietnam War. Australia has been drawn into these conflicts through a number of treaties and alliances made with other countries. Often it is not the conflicts that have drawn most outrage from Australian citizens, rather the insistence of other countries, for Australia to accept large numbers of post-war refugees.
In World War 1 (WW1), 1914-1918, Australian troops became involved in order to give support to the "Mother Country". Great Britain only became involved after Germany did not respect the neutrality of Belgium. In the first world war, Australian soldiers participated in some of the bloodiest and most enduring battles known to man, and soon developed a courageous name for themselves. Of the 330 000 Aussie soldiers who took part in WW1, there were 211 500 casualties and over 60 000 deaths, a casualty rate much higher than that of several other participants.
The Oxford online dictionary defines the word as follows, to “Recall and show respect for (something or someone)” or to “Mark or celebrate (an event or person) by doing or producing something.” This might provide us with a vague understanding of the literal definition, however it provides no insight into the deeper meaning that resonates within the word. In my mind commemoration exists in an immeasurable way, whether we are visiting the grave of a loved one or clipping on the unmistakable red poppy we have made the choice to show recognition to someone or something. No matter what action is undertaken in commemoration, the purpose is the same, to acknowledge a prior person or
Peter Weir’s 1981 film Gallipoli can in every sense of the phrase be called an ‘Australian classic’. The impact and effect this film has had upon the psyche and perspective of several generations of Australians has been significant. Whilst it can be argued that every Australian is aware of the ANZAC legend, and the events that occurred on the Turkish beaches in 1915, Weir’s film encapsulates and embodies a cultural myth which is now propagated as fact and embraced as part of the contemporary Australian identity. The film projects a sense of Australian nationalism that grew out of the 1970’s, and focuses on what it ‘means’ to be an Australian in a post-colonial country. In this way Gallipoli embodies a sense of ‘Australian-ness’ through the depiction of mateship and through the stark contrast of Australia to Britain. A sense of the mythic Australia is further projected through the cinematic portrayal of the outback, and the way in which Australia is presented in isolation from the rest of the world. These features combined create not only a sense of nationalism, but also a mythology stemming from the ANZAC legend as depicted within the film.
Australia was originally a collection of six independent colonies and due to many reasons discussed in this essay, they drew together and became a Federation. Although the States still retain their own identities, it is as Australian's that we are united and identified against the rest of the world. Australia has become a recognized nation with political and military standing.
The Anzac spirit is not defined by any simple term; it is defined by the acts of valour and heroism of a person or group of Australians. The first Australian to be recognised with the highest award of bravery was Sir Neville Howse after the Boer war in South Africa (1900). The Highest medal available to troops, The Victorian Cross is awarded to a person who “in the presence of the enemy, displays the most conspicuous gallantry; a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice; or extreme devotion to duty.” Howse was once again sent to fight for his country in World War 1 where he demonstrated his Australian clout for the second time in war. Howse demonstrated the Anzac attitude throughout his whole life leading him to things like serving as the Commonwealth Minister of Health. Howse demonstrated the values of someone worthy of the Victorian Cross through everything he did, thus allowing a spark of the soon to be dubbed Anzac spirit to be kindled and kept alight throughout the rest of Australian
ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of landing on Gallipoli in 1915, it is a day we remember those who died in any war, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. It also marks the anniversary of the first military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces. It is here that we became globally recognised as a nation. “It’s a day when we paid a terrible price, so many young lives. They deserve to be celebrated. And I think it’s very reaffirming of our society that so many people care about something that happened so long ago.” Every year children, grandchildren, friends, family and the general public come together and unite in commemoration for those who lost their lives. We stand by those of us who are family and friends of the fallen and give our support. ANZAC day is one where we come together and thank those who fought for us to grant our freedom. We unite in commemoration for our
The book "The Australian Legend", written by Russell Ward and published in 1958 speaks mainly of "Australian Identity". It looks at nationalism and what has formed our self-image. There are many aspects that are left overlooked however, as the Authour makes his assumptions. Significant parts of society are neglected consideration, these include those that weren't from the bush, non-British immigrants, the Aboriginal people and women. Also the use of romanticised and exaggerated evidence causes an imbalance in his conclusions.
Australia Day, celebrated every 26th of January, or the following Monday in case the date falls on a weekend, has a strong cultural significance. Despite this, many Australians don’t know that commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships 200 years ago—in 1788—at Port Jackson in New South Wales. This was the day when Captain Arthur Philip declared the country as a British colony.
For countless years the entire world has visualised Australians as a pack of outback country bogans, with a limited education and a strange addiction to vegemite and beer. Australians are a strange collection of people who only ever greet each other by using phrases such as ‘G’day Mate’ and ‘How ya goin’, whilst also throwing in as many strange and unintelligent phrases an possible. This is definitely not the natural approach Australians take to greeting fellow Australians out in the street or over the phone, nor does the vocabulary of an average Australian majorly consist of slang and cuss words. People from other cultures all over the world have seemingly taken on a number of stereotypes about both Australians and their country. Australia’s national identity needs to change from supporting the stereotype of the outback Australian bogan, to supporting the modern reality of its people whom are actually well educated and a part of the middle class.