STUDYING DECADES: 1980s / 1990s / 2000s

STUDYING DECADES: 1980s / 1990s / 2000s This study of decades in Australian history will help you develop an understanding of key aspects of the period, the place of the returned servicemen and women in their society, and the role and influence of the RSL in shaping that Australian society. In 1965 a small group of people gathered at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli, to commemorate the 50 th anniversary of the landing of the ANZACs at Gallipoli. A few years later the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance was daubed with peace slogans during the night before ANZAC Day. ANZAC Day seemed to be a remote and dying commemoration. Thirty years later ANZAC Cove was crowded with thousands of young Australians. They had come to participate and commemorate something that they felt was special to them, that was a part of who they were. And, far from having protests, Australia received a new memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The focus questions for these decades are: Why had attitudes to ANZAC Day changed so much over this time? What does the ANZAC tradition mean to you today? www.servingthenation.info 1

Source 1 The Unknown Australian Soldier In 1993 the remains of an unknown Australian soldier was brought to Canberra. Here are the words that were spoken at the ceremony: Read these and answer the questions that follow. We do not know this Australian's name and we never will. We do not know his rank or his battalion. We do not know where he was born, nor precisely how and when he died. We do not know where in Australia he had made his home or when he left it for the battlefields of Europe. We do not know his age or his circumstances whether he was from the city or the bush; what occupation he left to become a soldier; what religion, if he had a religion; if he was married or single. We do not know who loved him or whom he loved. If he had children we do not know who they are. His family is lost to us as he was lost to them. We will never know who this Australian was. Yet he has always been among those whom we have honoured. We know that he was one of the 45,000 Australians who died on the Western Front. One of the 416,000 Australians who volunteered for service in the First World War. One of the 324,000 Australians who served overseas in that war and one of the 60,000 Australians who died on foreign soil. One of the 100,000 Australians who have died in wars this century. He is all of them. And he is one of us. This Australia and the Australia he knew are like foreign countries. The tide of events since he died has been so dramatic, so vast and all consuming, a world has been created beyond the reach of his imagination. He may have been one of those who believed that the Great War would be an adventure too grand to miss. He may have felt that he would never live down the shame of not going. But the chances are he went for no other reason than that he believed it was the duty he owed his country and his King. Because the Great War was a mad, brutal, awful struggle, distinguished more often than not by military and political incompetence; because the waste of human life was so terrible that some said victory was scarcely discernible from defeat; and because the war which was supposed to end all wars in fact sowed the seeds of a second even more terrible war we might think this Unknown Soldier died in vain. But, in honouring our war dead, as we always have and as we do today, we declare that this is not true. For out of the war came a lesson which transcended the horror and tragedy and the inexcusable folly. It was a lesson about ordinary people and the lesson was that they were not ordinary. On all sides they were the heroes of that war; not the generals and the politicians but the soldiers and sailors and nurses those who taught us to endure hardship, to show courage, to be bold as well as resilient, to believe in ourselves, to stick together. The Unknown Australian Soldier whom we are interring today was one of those who, by his deeds, proved that real nobility and grandeur belongs, not to empires and nations, but to the people on whom they, in the last resort, always depend. www.servingthenation.info 2

That is surely at the heart of the ANZAC story, the Australian legend which emerged from the war. It is a legend not of sweeping military victories so much as triumphs against the odds, of courage and ingenuity in adversity. It is a legend of free and independent spirits whose discipline derived less from military formalities and customs than from the bonds of mateship and the demands of necessity. It is a democratic tradition, the tradition in which Australians have gone to war ever since. This Unknown Australian is not interred here to glorify war over peace; or to assert a soldier's character above a civilian's; or one race or one nation or one religion above another; or men above women; or the war in which he fought and died above any other war; or one generation above any that has been or will come later. The Unknown Soldier honours the memory of all those men and women who laid down their lives for Australia. His tomb is a reminder of what we have lost in war and what we have gained. We have lost more than 100,000 lives, and with them all their love of this country and all their hope and energy. We have gained a legend: a story of bravery and sacrifice and, with it, a deeper faith in ourselves and our democracy, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be Australian. It is not too much to hope, therefore, that this Unknown Australian Soldier might continue to serve his country - he might enshrine a nation's love of peace and remind us that, in the sacrifice of the men and women whose names are recorded here, there is faith enough for all of us. The Hon. P. J. Keating MP Prime Minister of Australia 1 How does the Prime Minister make the Unknown Soldier inclusive of all Australians? 2 What does he say is the main message of the Unknown Soldier for Australians today? 3 Is the Unknown Soldier relevant to you? Explain your reasons. ANZAC Day has not always been as popular as it is today. Here are some ideas about why the changes might have happened. Read them, and organise them into a logical sequence, putting the numbers in boxes in the left hand column. www.servingthenation.info 3

Source 2 Why has Anzac Day continued down the years? Some possible reasons. 75th Anniversary A need for a myth A new people A representative group National holiday ANZAC Day 1916 Attendance at ceremonies Australia Remembers Behaviour of the troops The 75th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1990 and the associated pilgrimages again focused attention on the few remaining Gallipoli veterans. Every nation seems to need a myth, or an image of itself, that it can look to with pride and recognition. The message is not necessarily "I am that person", but rather "I am part of the society which can produce that person, and I share in those qualities." The image or myth has to be based in some reality, but that reality need not be common to all those who share in it. Australia had no experience on the world stage before 1914. People were anxious about who they were, and how they would stand when tested against the established order. All Australians were involved - while the first army was only 50,000 men, virtually everybody in Australia had some connection - as relative, friend, or work-mate - of someone in that army. So it was a representative body. The soldiers accepted the praise, and it provided a standard for them for the rest of the war - survivors wore a brass A for ANZAC on their sleeve for the rest of the war, making it obvious to all that they were considered special. The day became an official national holiday in the 1920s, and school children read about the feats of the ANZACs in their school readers. Right from the first ANZAC Day in 1916 messages of national identity and pride were being expressed. These sorts of ideas were echoed in The ANZAC Book, a collection of drawings and articles from Gallipoli which was sold throughout Australia. Ever since the 1980s crowds watching the parade have been growing rather than declining, and there are many young people attending dawn ceremonies. The wars are an important and popular part of most States and Territories secondary school curricula, and the Queensland ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Australian War Memorial have produced many important collections of documents and resources for a study of the wars in schools. The 1995 Australia Remembers year for the 50th anniversary of the ending of World War II also focused attention on Australia s military heritage. The soldiers fought with skill and courage. That is the essential element of the ANZAC legend. www.servingthenation.info 4

Post-Vietnam Welcome Home The One Day of the Year Vietnam War Western Front Film Gallipoli World War 2 Modern Peacekeeping Unknown Soldier Death of the last Gallipoli ANZACs and World War 1 Diggers In 1987 the Welcome Home parade for Vietnam veterans seemed to show a change in attitude towards recognition of Australians military service. Then the ANZAC tradition began to decline. In the 1960s a famous and influential play by Alan Seymour, The One Day of the Year, brutally represented ANZAC Day as an occasion for a few old diggers to make public fools of themselves as they became embarrassingly drunk. During the 1970s peace slogans were painted on the Melbourne Shrine on the eve of ANZAC Day, and much attention was paid to feminist/pacifist anti- ANZAC Day marches. The reputation and qualities that were seen at Gallipoli were seen again on the Western Front. Most Australian soldiers served on the Western Front, so the image was not only confined to those relatively few who had actually landed at Gallipoli. In 1981 the film Gallipoli was a great hit. It starred two attractive actors, and presented the Diggers as lovable rogues. In World War 2 many of the first recruits were the sons of ANZACs, and they saw themselves as carrying on the traditions. They also provided new blood for the ANZAC Day ceremonies and marches. Since 1947, Australian Defence Force and police personnel have served in many dangerous peacekeeping operations, which were praised by the Australian people, the media and the international community. This service continues to make significant contributions to world peace and security. In 1993 the remains of an Unknown Australian Soldier were brought to Australia from France, and interred at the Australian War Memorial. By the end of the twentieth century the last of the soldiers who had fought in the First World War were dead. These last diggers were given a heroic status. www.servingthenation.info 5

Look at this extract from a book about young people today and Gallipoli. The author is interviewing a young woman named Kate at Gallipoli on ANZAC Day (25 April) 2000: Source 3 Young people s attitudes to Gallipoli today [Today when we were walking around [Gallipoli battlefields] I just had tears in my eyes the whole time it was relly moving and it s, it s like a Mecca basically, like a pilgrimage for Australians [L]ook around you, there s a fair few people here and you don t get that many people coming together [for nothing]. I think to me it s a spiritual thing, definitely. I didn t come here to party. I came here to commemorate what [the ANZACs] did, what they did for us I think the majority of people [here think that] as well. Quoted in Bruce Scates, Return to Gallipoli, CUP, Melbourne, 2006 page 197 5 What do you think is the relevance of Anzac Day for you and your generation? 6 Would you go to Gallipoli? Would you go to a Second War site, such as Kokoda? Is there still something special about Gallipoli? Explain your reasons. In the 1990s the RSL developed its Youth Charter. A charter is an agreement or undertaking. Here is the Charter. Look at it and discuss the aspects of it below. Source 4 RSL Youth Charter The Returned & Services League of Australia believes that the future well being and prosperity of this country depends upon sound democratic governance. This must include the nurturing of the Youth of Australia to ensure that the strength, vitality and security of our Nation is preserved and enhanced. Youth must be accepted as a most important section of our society and given the respect, attention and encouragement to allow each individual to develop to his or her potential and ability. The League acknowledges that young people have rights and responsibilities as citizens to participate in community affairs and play a constructive role in society. To this end, all youth must have a right to an education and upbringing that will provide them with the best opportunities to achieve their aims in life. This education must include a sound understanding of Australia s political and social structure, origins and history and aimed at promoting a strong national identity. This education should also engender in youth a respect for, and understanding of themselves and others in society and an acceptance of their own responsibility as part of that society. www.servingthenation.info 6

What the RSL believes Your attitude / opinion 1 Promoting pride in and loyalty to the nation. This should be fostered through: Promoting respect for national symbols, honours and awards, Flag raising ceremonies and singing of the national anthem should be a part of primary education. Teaching of Australian history. This should be a core subject during primary and secondary education and should include the origins of Australia as a nation, and the part played by Australia s Defence Forces in its defence. Teaching in practical politics and citizenship. This should be a core subject during primary and secondary education that traces the development of our national constitution from our British and colonial heritage and gives practical training in political democracy and in the duties and rights of citizens. 2 Inculcating shared community values, especially ANZAC values. They will be fostered in the teaching of Australian history but can be further developed through: Participation of young Australians in ANZAC Day ceremonies, where practicable, in a meaningful and structured way. Commemorating the memory of Australian servicemen and women. Children should be encouraged to learn of the experiences of at least some individuals who need not necessarily be relatives. Visits to the Australian War Memorial, local memorials and museums. 3 Promoting service in the Australian Defence Force. This can be fostered through: Encouraging service in the ADF Cadet Corps and local Reserve units. Providing an understanding of Service life to young people. Positive support to currently serving ADF members and their families. www.servingthenation.info 7

8 Are there other activities or emphases that you think should be in the Charter? Explain your ideas. 9 Here is a list of possible Youth Activities that are part of some RSL sub-branches. Investigate to see if these are in your area. Youth Activities Programs a. Assistance to local ADF Cadet Units. This is given priority as a national RSL program. All Sub-Branches which have an ADF Cadet unit in their area are encouraged to contact and maintain liaison with those units. Practical assistance can be provided through assisting regional units, prize giving and encouragement of individuals. b. Remembrance RSL Community Link. Sub-Branches are asked to encourage younger children to honour and respect the memory of a deceased serviceman or woman. Where practicable, Sub-Branches are encouraged to adopt the nationally endorsed program RSL Community Link. Details of the RSL Community Link program are set out in the program Handbook. c. Youth Clubs. Sub-Branches are encouraged, where resources permit, to sponsor or assist youth clubs in the community. Where practical assistance is not possible the work of such clubs could be encouraged. d. Youth Sports Activities. Sub-Branches are encouraged to sponsor or assist in youth activities in the community. Lest We Forget Runs on a Sunday near ANZAC Day are recommended. Junior sporting membership in RSL Clubs is to be welcomed. e. The RSL War on Drugs. Sub-Branches are encouraged to lend their weight in the local community to efforts to prevent the use of illicit drugs. Practical measures might include support for Life Education Australia. f. History Competitions. The RSL supports the Government s National Simpson Prize awards. Branches and Sub-Branches are encouraged to promote or assist in history competitions for school children in their communities, especially those which deal with Australia s experience in war. Do these exist in your area? 10 How would you now answer these questions posed at the start of this unit? Why had attitudes to ANZAC Day changed so much over this time? What does the ANZAC tradition mean to you today? www.servingthenation.info 8