Anzac Day 2016: Digger tells Aussies not to let the terrorists win and show up at services
THE global terror threat has failed to deter Australians from honouring our fallen heroes who fought and died to uphold our values of freedom.
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THE global terror threat has failed to deter Australians from honouring our fallen heroes who fought and died to uphold the values of freedom and peace that we cherish the most.
Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Dan Keighran said yesterday that although the fear of terrorist attacks in Turkey and Europe had kept visitor numbers well down for this year’s Anzac Day ceremonies, tens of thousands will still turn out to march, pray and reflect at home and abroad.
Organisers for centenary commemorations in VillersBretonneux in northern France had been expecting 6500 people to attend today’s services. But recent Islamic State bomb attacks in Paris and Brussels have cut that number to just 3000.
In Gallipoli, about 1000 people will attend the dawn service at Anzac Cove, defying travel warnings.
Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan said security at the service would be beefed up.
“I met with the Turkish governor and he has reassured me that all the security that is necessary is in place,” he said.
Corporal Keighran, an Afghanistan veteran who won the nation’s top bravery award in 2010 for drawing fire to himself to save his mates, is in Villers-Bretonneux to read an ode at today’s Dawn Service.
He was adamant Islamic State and other terror groups cannot be allowed to bow the West with their horrific tactics of fear and mindless violence.
“Going about your business is the best message,” he said. “That’s why I went to fight in Afghanistan in the first place — to stop someone affecting our way of life.
“Get out and go about your life. Come out today. Come to the services. Don’t be afraid.
“It’s important to remember what happened 100 years ago, but it’s 100 years of service since then as well. It’s not just World War I, it’s everyone — it’s navy, air force, army.”
Australia’s Chief of air force Leo Davies sought to play down the low numbers, saying security fears were only a part of it and were not a true reflection of overall interest in commemorating Anzac Day.
He said numbers went up and down, but the message was still “Lest We Forget”.
“We are not forgetting,” he said, adding the reason the Australian Defence Force was so engaged in the Middle East and elsewhere was to ensure Australians always had freedom of choice.
“It’s the reason we are fighting, the reason why we find someone else’s ideals not matched to ours, not providing the freedom that we enjoy in Australia — and it is worth fighting for,” he said.
The message is shared by the 300 Australians and 100 New Zealanders fighting Islamic State in Iraq — the biggest shared mission for the two countries since Gallipoli 101 years ago.
The Diggers at the Anzacs’ camp north of Baghdad will all pause to honour their fallen comrades today.
Among them is Leigh Trevan, 29, from Brisbane, whose great-grandfather Harold was awarded the Military Cross and France’s Croix de Guerre for his actions in World War I.
“He wasn’t the reason I signed up,” said Ms Trevan, whose grandfather also served, in World War II.
“I joined for the challenge, physically and mentally.”
She knows only too well the stress of war, and said it greatly affected her grandfather.
“It was never spoken of in my family,” she said.
“All I know is that he had nightmares.”
Originally published as Anzac Day 2016: Digger tells Aussies not to let the terrorists win and show up at services
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