The Anzac Legend has been part of the Australian value since the landing in Gallipoli on April 25th 1915, often described as what it 'means to be Australian'. To this day, it is central to Australian identity, being our nation’s first military involvement. Despite our military defeat, Gallipoli was the triumph of Australian spirit. It is the symbol of courage, of respect and mateship, which were the characteristics the soldiers were said to have possessed.
However, as today marks the centenary of the Gallipoli landing, it is questionable whether or not the Anzac Legend truly reflects the qualities of the soldiers a centenary ago, or even Australia as a nation in the past and in the present day.
The Legend is so ingrained into our society that …show more content…
Similarly, there were at least 3000 Australian women who volunteered to serve as nurses in the First World War, facing the same threats as every male soldier did. The Legend also failed to include the families of the soldiers who left for war, and the uncertainty and concern they endured every passing day as they were required to continue their day to day life.
Over the past century, Australia has changed immensely to become the multicultural society we are today and it is impossible to have the Anzac Legend define us as a nation when it only compasses a certain percentage of us. Our nation is ever-evolving, and although we are not in the same place we were a hundred years ago, some things still remain the same.
As Australians, we still honour and uphold the Anzac Spirit, and as the Western Australia branch of The Returned and Services League of Australia stated, in times of crisis, whether it be from cyclones or floods or bushfires, Australians would always 'come together to rescue one another, to ease suffering, to provide food and shelter, to look after one another, and to let the victims of these disaster know they are not
However, as today marks the centenary of the Gallipoli landing, it is questionable whether or not the Anzac Legend truly reflects the qualities of the soldiers a centenary ago, or even Australia as a nation in the past and in the present day.
The Legend is so ingrained into our society that …show more content…
Similarly, there were at least 3000 Australian women who volunteered to serve as nurses in the First World War, facing the same threats as every male soldier did. The Legend also failed to include the families of the soldiers who left for war, and the uncertainty and concern they endured every passing day as they were required to continue their day to day life.
Over the past century, Australia has changed immensely to become the multicultural society we are today and it is impossible to have the Anzac Legend define us as a nation when it only compasses a certain percentage of us. Our nation is ever-evolving, and although we are not in the same place we were a hundred years ago, some things still remain the same.
As Australians, we still honour and uphold the Anzac Spirit, and as the Western Australia branch of The Returned and Services League of Australia stated, in times of crisis, whether it be from cyclones or floods or bushfires, Australians would always 'come together to rescue one another, to ease suffering, to provide food and shelter, to look after one another, and to let the victims of these disaster know they are not