On the 99th anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps troops at Gallipoli, celebrated yesterday, let us revisit the reason why we commemorate Anzac Day, and what it means to us as a nation, and as individuals.

It is said that Australia came of age on that morning some 13 years after federation.

That may be true, and perhaps that is why we hold the day in such high regard in our national calendar. It certainly is not to celebrate a great military victory, because the landing and subsequent battle at Gallipoli was far from that.

The Anzacs were landed at the wrong place, after setting out around 3.30 am from the ships anchored offshore, on a night so dark, not even the shoreline was visible. Initially they encountered fairly light fire from the Turkish defenders, but the enemy positions were quickly reinforced, and by mid-morning the Anzacs were faced with withering rifle and machine-gun fire from the heights above.

At the end of that first day, 2,000 men lay dead – for the gain of about six square kilometres and an advance inland of one kilometre. It was a military disaster from any viewpoint, except for the well-planned and successful evacuation which followed some eight months later.

Not including illness, the total Allied casualties at Gallipoli were 56,707 dead, 123,598 wounded, 7,654 made prisoner, total 187,959 The whole Gallipoli operation cost 26,111 Australian casualties, including 8,141 deaths.

Of course it is just not Gallipoli we remember on Anzac Day, nor is it confined to the duty and sacrifice of the First World War.

Anzac Day is set aside for us all to come together to give thanks to all those men and women who have put their lives at risk in the service of our country – and in many cases paid the supreme price.

These men and women did not start the wars in which they were involved; that was the responsibility of the government of the day and our government is the agent of the Australian people. The sailors, soldiers and airmen, the nurses and other personnel were fighting on behalf of the people of Australia.
What they did was to offer their very existence when they were told that their country needed them. I say their country, but it many cases, particularly in the First World War, they did so for a country which was not theirs by birth, for many of them had been born overseas and were Australian by immigration.
For Australia, as for many nations, WWI remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and casualties. From a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted – with around 320,000 serving – of which over 61,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.

Anzac Day is a day for all Australians, regardless of religion, racial background or place of birth. It is a day to commemorate the bravery and self-sacrifice of past and present generations.

On this Anzac Day, let us thank and recognise those who served in the First and Second World Wars, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, the Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan, along with the many international peace-keeping operations over the years that have involved Australian forces.

Anzac Day is not a day for honouring war, for war is not something to be honoured. War is something which is used as a last resort when diplomacy has failed and is used by a nation to safeguard its sovereignty.

Anzac Day is not merely a date, marking some remote campaign, but rather a spirit. It is a day to reflect on the qualities of past generations who in hardship displayed courage, discipline, self sacrifice, resourcefulness and friendship.

As the number of veterans grows smaller, the spirit of Anzac Day, which has been bequeathed to us from battlefields long ago, lives on, because it is a reflection of the very heart of our nation.

History shows that, for a peace loving people, we have been a formidable adversary when stirred to action and also remarkably successful at the business of war. On every occasion when Australians have been called upon to protect freedom, they have done so generously and effectively.

The Anzac spirit exists in each of us, so therefore let us be guided by that spirit in facing the national and personal challenges ahead. Let us strive to be worthy of their sacrifice.

* Steve Kyritsis is president of the Hellenic RSL in Melbourne.