Thank you. ANZAC's,
where would we be without you, today?

As ANZAC Day 2006 draws closer I'm saddened by the thought of fine young men and women who've served our country. Australia, the lucky country.

I was reading a few stories on the weekend about Australia's troops and those they protected. We're really quite lucky that they have been with us. Our fine land is free because of them and our allies. The sacrifices they made, the horrors and injuries they endured have made our country still, truly the Lucky Country, it is today. But at the greatest cost to themselves.

As a young lad I missed the conscription based on my birthday which wasn't drawn out in the ballot. Some of the chaps from my work did get conscripted and served in Australia or Vietnam, but they came home and re-joined their workmates again.

Of those who served in the wars that Australia's been involved in each of them was changed in some way. Many, too many, of them didn't come home to our fine land, or when they returned they were never the same young man and women who went away.

What an awful waste. War, for whatever reason, is started by one person with so much influence over so many people, millions of people. Every one of those people had great potential and ability to make our world a better place and the one instigator of the war had the potential to let them live and prosper.

Evelyn, my wife, remembers her Dad who was one of the Rats of Tobruk. He was profoundly affected by his wartime experience and his whole family affected by it.

It's beyond my comprehension the boredom and the bravery they would have been part of. And a simple thank you seems so small and pathetic, still, we all need to honour and thank each of them, truly for their gift to us today.

Here's a poem from Evelyn's Dad's pocket book he had in Tobruk.

"A Night at Tobruk" Author unknown.

I'm lonely tonight in the desert
in vain I've tried to sleep,
the stars that shine above me
their silent watches keep.

I think of the years dear sweetheart
that I've spent at home with you,
and my thoughts forever ponder
on your face with your eyes so blue.

It is peaceful tonight in the desert
with the guns so still,
I fancy the worlds gone crazy
by a mad Dictators will.

When a siren shrieks a warning
and the planes sweep overhead,
the shrapnel flies and we realise,
we must hug the earths cold bed.

The bombs rain down with a screaming hiss
and burst with a deafening roar,
we proudly claim another miss
as we curse this ghastly war.

Our guns go into action
while the searchlights rake the sky,
with bating breath I gaze on death
as I watch a comrade die.

I vow revenge on the enemy
as I kneel by the side of my pal,
I think of his poor old mother
or a sister, or maybe a gal.

He gave up his all for his country
so carefree, so young and so gay,
so far away from his homeland
His dear life he had to pay.

But his name will go down in history
on the roll of honour at home,
his soul shall live forever
In heaven's sacred dome.

The skies above are clear again
the stars their watches keep,
there's a breathing in the stillness
and a feint pulse of sleep.

High in the tower of silence
night spreads a jewel hand,
I fervently yearn for my return
for you dearest, and Aussie land.

Thank you ANZACs