Arcadia Australia

By Caitlin Moore

When it comes to history, Australia is still a teenager. Residents of elderly countries throw around mentions of ancient ruins or medieval cathedrals, while Aussies mumble about ‘brickwork in kitchens dating back to the early 1970s’.

Yes, we may be a young country, but our short history is still rich. From 2014-2018, Australia will commemorate 100 years since our involvement in World War One. In fact, 5 August, 1914 was the day Queensland officially committed to being at war. So, this time a century ago, university-aged men around the state were leaving sunny Queensland behind for the battlefront.

One word you may hear a lot this year is Anzac. It’s a day of remembrance in April, a name for our soldiers and a delicious biscuit. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed in Gallipoli, Turkey, on 25 April, 1915 and Aussies commemorate this anniversary every year by dragging themselves out of bed in the dark to attend dawn services across Australia.

Keep an eye out for Anzac-themed movies, television series or commemorative events in the coming months. Tuck a few tissues up your sleeve though, because the atmosphere at Anzac events can be chilling and the stories moving.

Lest we forget.

Many thanks to Caitlin Moore for providing this insightful post on Anzac Day. Caitlin works with the Australian Government in Marketing and Communications, and is a graduate of The University of Queensland.