Anzac Day 2020

16/4/2020

Please be advised that this post contains the names of people who are deceased.

Anzac Day is usually an occasion where schools come together to remember those who fought for our country, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Our children sit in assemblies and learn about the wars that Australia has been part of and how we continue to commemorate those events and the people who fought. Some children would also normally participate in Anzac activities with their families or extra-curricular groups.

This year, these activities won’t happen. Covid-19 means that we will honour our Anzacs differently and reflect on their sacrifices in isolation with the other people we live with.

Aboriginal Anzacs are often overlooked in Anzac commemorations and this year it is likely that fewer kids will hear about:

the efforts of our Aboriginal service men and women;
the soldiers who served a country that at the time didn’t recognise them or their families;
a country that denied returned Aboriginal soldiers the recognition and respect that their non-Aboriginal counterparts received.

The stories of these men and women are just as important as every Australian who served. Their families are proud of their ancestors and the sacrifices they made and the resilience they showed by standing up for Country even when its governors denied Aboriginal people.

This year the telling of these stories depends on each of us. Talk to your children about what they have previously learned about Aboriginal soldiers and consider sharing some of the stories that I have included below. These are not my stories. They belong to the servicemen and women and their families. I am honoured to share these stories and privileged to share the attached resources to support your conversations about these great Australians.