Remembering fondly

ANZAC Day came and went - with a deck full of adults and garden full of kids.

The rain held off and it was nice enough to sit outside enjoying the chill that autumn brings with it and I was all out of jackets and shrugs come 8pm. Judging by how full the recycling bin was the next day though, I wondered how any of our guests felt the chill.

Husband took up his usual party position at the helm of the barbecue and I scuttled around the place making sure glasses were filled and wine was chilled. In patriotic mood, we all sat beneath the national flag bunting and raised a glass in honour of those for whom this public holiday is all about.

ANZAC Day is commemorated by Australia and New Zealand as a national day of remembrance to honour those who fought at Gallipoli during the First World War. Dawn services are solemn events and bring the message home of how wrong and woeful war is.

War veterans are joined by the Scouts, Guides, the Defence Force and other uniformed groups as they march through the streets and this is followed by social gatherings, often including an Australian gambling game called 'two-up'.

This game was a popular one with ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) soldiers and although Australian states have laws forbidding gambling outside of designated licensed venues, these rules are relaxed on ANZAC Day when it becomes legal to play 'two-up'.

I, personally, didn't witness much of this for I was in the throes of entertaining my garden party guests while we remembered our fallen heroes. What they went through will never be - and should never be - forgotten...