I attended the Dawn Service at Melton today with most of my children and my friend David and his son. This is a tradition that I have upheld since I left the Royal Australian Navy in 2000, which I believe to be important. It was a fantastic turn out, and is growing in numbers every year. Even our local Federal member, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard attended and gave a moving oration.
I served in the first Gulf War onboard HMAS Adelaide 1990-1991, as part of the Coalition forces who removed the Iraqis from Kuwait. We were patrolling the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf enforcing UN sanctions. Not a lot of action, but certainly scary times, and certainly not a something I would wish upon my kids. Try sleeping at night, on a warship, below the waterline, when you know that the enemy had placed sea mines in your vicinity. It doesn’t make for a good nights sleep. Not even close to full blown combat, but your adrenaline pumps hard and fast quite a bit of the time.
Peace is something to be well respected in this day and age, but life is lived without a thought about this sacrifice except on this day, ANZAC Day. This day is one of remembrance, not the glorification of war.
I believe that by upholding this tradition, it sends a message to our children that sending anyone to fight in any conflict is not something to be rushed into and any decisions to do so should be thought about hard and long. They are the future, and it is up to us to show them the way.
Blessed are the Peacemakers, for sometimes they pay the ultimate sacrifice so that we may live in freedom.
Thanks for sharing your ANZAC story Gavin.
It is good to hear that more and more people are showing their respect for our diggers, both from yesterday and today by turning out to the ANZAC day dawn services.
I bet it was a scary time for you when you served for our country.
A great post, thank you.
Tania
Hear ! Hear ! I am the mother of a sailor that was in the gulf and I have never been so terrified for the safety of my loved one also I was the sister and s.i.l of two men in Vietnam Its such a scary time for the ones left at home too
Well said Gavin
Ellie
Thanks so much for sharing a little bit of your past, Gavin.
I remember how scared I was when the first Gulf War broke out – I was serving up at Puckapunyal at the time, and didn’t know, for a few days, whether we would get home or be sent out. It was harrowing.
Peace is so precious. I think the increasing numbers at ANZAC services show that the world is becoming aware that we need to work hard to maintain it.
Take care.
well said Gav!
I think that every single australian and New Zealander should give thanks to those that served through war and kept our country free. I certainly give thanks for this and also give thanks that my family that served all returned home during times of peace. One day of thanks doesn’t seem enough …. but the one day that we do have, anzac day, is becomming larger each year.
Thankyou Gavin. I always admired and respected you, but serving in the Navy makes you all the more special to me, and showing me the “Hippie” life has …. well…. lets just say …. thank god you are in my life. I love you.
xoxoxo
Gav, glad to see that you have not forgotten where you have come from. i knew you never would. you are correct that we must remember how bad those wars were and that our peace keepers make sure it never happens again. We too did the dawn service, at Cerberus, then marched Cribby. it was a good day spent with mates, a few drinks and two up.
hope you are feeling better.
suzi