Category Archives: Anzac Day

Anzac Day Reflection – 25th April 2022

Anzac Day, War and Remembrance, , ,
Clr Justine Langford. Click to enlarge.

This year’s Anzac Day Reflection was held in Richardson’s Lookout – Marrickville Peace Park. This was the eighth time that the event has been held in Marrickville Peace Park since 2014, with no event occurring in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Organised by the Marrickville Peace Group, the event attracted around 50 people. In the spirit of genuine remembrance, these events offer participants the opportunity to ask some hard questions, such as how our nation became involved in wars abroad, what purposes were actually being served, and what mistakes were made in prolonging hostilities. Continue reading Anzac Day Reflection – 25th April 2022 →

Anzac Day Reflection – 25th April 2021

Anzac Day, Myths of War, War and Remembrance
Jennifer Newman & John Butcher at Anzac Day Reflection 2021 – click to enlarge.

This year’s Anzac Day Reflection was held in Richardson’s Lookout – Marrickville Peace Park.

The occasion offered participants an opportunity to remember the loss of Australian servicemen and women in WW1 and subsequent wars, together with those harmed physically and psychologically and the grief endured by their families.

As the name suggests, however, Anzac Day Reflections aim to do more than recognise Australian casualties resulting from military service in foreign lands. In the spirit of genuine remembrance, they offer participants the opportunity to ask some hard questions, such as how our nation became involved in these wars, what purposes were actually being served, and what mistakes may have been made in prolonging hostilities. Continue reading Anzac Day Reflection – 25th April 2021 →

Anzac Day and the coronavirus

Anzac Day,
Marrickville Peace Park

Due to the coronavirus, no public gatherings to commemorate Anzac Day will be held around the country this year. This has also resulted in the cancellation of the alternative Anzac Day Reflection which was scheduled to take place at the Marrickville Peace Park in Sydney.

This circumstance, however, opens up an opportunity for the Australian community to move away from Anzac Day ceremonies that have become so commercialised and politicised in recent decades.

In particular, it offers the opportunity for people, young and old, to critically reflect upon the Anzac legend and the historical distortions that this myth entails.

Continue reading Anzac Day and the coronavirus →

Anzac Day Reflection 2018

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Entrance columns, Marrickville Peace Park – left click to enlarge

This year’s Anzac Day Reflection was held in Richardson’s Lookout – Marrickville Peace Park, the third time this event has been held in the Peace Park since its launch on 8 November 2015.

Organised by Gallipoli Centenary Peace Campaign (GCPC), the event attracted over 50 people who came together to pay tribute to Australian soldiers killed during WW1 and other wars that Australia has engaged in. This includes all Indigenous Australians who served in these wars, including the 500-600 who fought in WW1 and who have only been officially recognised in recent times. Continue reading Anzac Day Reflection 2018 →

Anzac Day Reflective Gathering – 25 April 2017

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Marrickville Peace Park Signage

During an Anzac Day address in 2013, the former Governor of Tasmania, the Hon. Peter Underwood AC, emphasised the following: “All our remembrances and honours are meaningless, unless we also vow to become resolute about peace because that is what those whom we remember and honour on this special day thought they were dying for.”1

In keeping with this memorable statement, an Anzac Day Reflection was held in Richardson’s Lookout – Marrickville Peace Park on Tuesday 25 April from 10.30am to 11.30am.

The event was organised by Gallipoli Centenary Peace Campaign (GCPC) and attracted 17 people from a range of groups, ages and backgrounds. Continue reading Anzac Day Reflective Gathering – 25 April 2017 →

Anzac Day Reflection 2016

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Tree Planting Anzac Day 2016An Anzac Day Reflection was held at Richardson’s Lookout – Marrickville Peace Park on Monday April 25 between 10.00am and 11.00am.

Organised by GCPC, this ‘Hour of Reflection’ attracted over 65 people. Unlike official Anzac Day commemorations, it offered participants an opportunity to reflect on all victims of war including:

  • Those who died in battle;
  • Those who were maimed physically and/or psychologically;
  • Those who suffered on the home front;
  • Those who opposed conscription and war.

Continue reading Anzac Day Reflection 2016 →