Parliamentary
Review of
ANZAC Day Laws
Chapter 2 – The
ANZAC Spirit
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The
ANZAC spirit is a concept that is elusive of description. With a recent surge of interest
in the ANZAC story, especially on the part of younger people, references to the ANZAC
spirit seem to occur more frequently.
The evolution and significance of the
"ANZAC spirit" is well outlined in notes made available to the Committee by Dr.
Peter Stanley, Principal Historian, Australian War Memorial:
"Anzac" has been part of
Australian thought, language and life since 25 April 1915. Devised by a signaller in Egypt
as a useful acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, it quickly became a word
with many uses and meanings. From 1915 the word was applied to military formations (there
were ANZAC corps in both world wars), to places (notably"Anzac area" on
Gallipoli and "Anzac Cove" itself), to people ("Anzac" at first meant
a man who had served on Gallipoli and later acquired broader applications……It
generated many slang terms in the first Australian Imperial Force and has become a part of
the Australian language. The popularisation of the term was largely the work of the
official correspondent and historian, Charles Bean. His The Anzac Book edited on
Gallipoli, sold tens of thousands of copies from 1916. The title of the first two volumes
of his official history, The Story of Anzac, confirmed the word’s place. Despite its
bi-lateral origin, and its use in New Zealand, Australia has largely appropriated the
word, a fact regarded with some resentment in New Zealand. The use of the word Anzac in
Australia has been governed by federal legislation since 1920.
Historians examining the importance of
Anzac to Australia devised the term "Anzac legend" (or more critically,
"Anzac myth"). It refers to the representation of Australians in war, the way in
which they think, speak and write of their war experience (which is not always the same
thing as how they experienced it). Though aspects of the legend have been criticised,
there is general consensus over what the essence of what is regarded as the Anzac spirit.
Anzac came to signify the qualities which Australians have seen their forces exhibit in
war. These attributes cluster around several ideas: endurance, courage, ingenuity, good
humour, and, of course, mateship. These qualities collectively constitute what is
described as the Anzac spirit. Perhaps the best-and most widely misquoted-reflection of
the meaning of Anzac is found in Charles Bean’s one-volume short history of Australia
in the Great War, Anzac to Amiens. In describing the evacuation of Anzac area Bean wrote:
‘By dawn on December 20th
Anzac had faded into a dim blue line lost amid other hills on the horizon as the ships
took their human freight to Imbros, Lemnos and Egypt. But Anzac stood, and still stands,
for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity,
comradeship, and endurance that will never own defeat.’[1]
Initially, the importance of ANZAC Day
was to provide a solemn occasion of remembrance and a sense of mourning for the gallantry
and sacrifices at Gallipoli. The ANZAC inspiration was clearly evident in Australia’s
later participation in wars, campaigns and peacekeeping operations. Accordingly, ANZAC Day
now has a broader significance and, to a considerable extent, has developed into a day
primarily commemorating gallantry and sacrifice, but also recognising the importance to
our nation of the ideals and values which our servicemen and women fought to preserve,
that is, the importance of the ANZAC spirit.[2]
The ANZAC spirit has captured the
attention of historians, writers, journalists and politicians. The notion of the ANZAC
Spirit is an undisputed quality recognised by the community at large. It is a powerful
concept as reflected in the following passage from a commemorative speech delivered by
former Prime Minister Paul Keating:
"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."[3]
The concept was recently discussed by
Prime Minister John Howard:
"Anzac Day has remained the story of
an aspiring nation's courage. It has remained relevant not to glorify war or to paint some
romantic picture of our history but to draw upon a great example of unity and common
purpose. As well as providing a day of commemoration, Anzac Day is also a time for all of
us to reflect with gratitude on those great values that unite us as Australians - values
such as mateship, courage, initiative and determination. This is because the same Anzac
spirit that has guided us through adversity and triumph seems to slumber periodically only
to draw new breath when the national interest calls to bring Australians together in times
of need".[4]
The Australian War Memorial has devoted
an exhibition in ANZAC Hall to the concept of the ANZAC spirit today. The following
quotation features prominently in the exhibition:
"Though born from the doomed
campaign at Gallipoli, the spirit of ANZAC is not really about loss at all. It is about
courage and endurance, and duty, and love of country, and mateship, and good humour and
the survival of a sense of self-worth and decency in the face of dreadful odds."[5]
The importance of the ANZAC spirit was a
common theme of submissions to the Committee. The RSL (Victorian Branch) observed that:
"ANZAC Day should be continued to be
honoured as the principal National day of commemoration in relation to patriotic and like
activities for the indefinite future."[6]
The Committee found there is overwhelming
support of ANZAC Day as a day of national commemoration. This support manifested itself in
submissions made to the Committee, the high level of media coverage of ANZAC Day, the
volume and success of literature about the ANZAC spirit and the growing popularity of
"pilgrimages" to Gallipoli, particularly by young Australians. It is apparent
that this response of support reflects the community’s recognition that there are
worthwhile principles and values that derive from the ANZAC spirit. The RSL (National
Headquarters) submission stressed the importance of ANZAC values as follows:
"ANZAC Day commemorates the
contribution of all who served Australia, but the RSL also sees ANZAC Day as important in
preserving ANZAC values and promoting them as shared values in the Australian community.
ANZAC values include such human qualities
as courage, mateship, fairness, persistence, integrity, humour, initiative, endurance,
determination, ingenuity, respect, and the "selfless spirit of ANZAC".
The best way to help preserve ANZAC
values is to involve young people in ANZAC Day ceremonies in a managed way that brings
these values to them meaningfully."[7]
The Committee concluded that the
commemoration of ANZAC Day should be further enhanced by greater emphasis on education
activities. The Committee considers that education in this sense includes not only
educating our children, but also catering for the increasing interest of Victorians in the
significance of ANZAC Day.
Recommendation
1
The Committee, in recognition of the
overwhelming support of ANZAC Day as a day of national commemoration, recommends that
Parliaments and governments work to:
(a) enhance commemoration of ANZAC Day;
(b) cater for the deep and increasing
public interest in the significance of ANZAC Day by stimulating education about ANZAC Day;
and
(c) provide greater resources and support
for activities and projects that commemorate the ANZAC spirit. |
| Footnotes |
| [1] |
C. E. W. Bean, Anzac to Amiens, Canberra, 1946, p. 181. |
| [2] |
In Victoria, the Shrine of Remembrance was initially constructed
as a tangible testament of recognition of the 114,000 men and women of Victoria who
served, and the 19,000 who died, in the Great War of 1914-1918, Submission of Trustees of
the Shrine of Remembrance. |
| [3] |
Funeral Service of the Unknown
Australian Soldier: Speech by the Prime Minister, the Hon P. J. Keating, MP Canberra, 11
November 1993. |
| [4] |
Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard, MP Canberra, 25 April 2002. |
| [5] |
The ANZAC Spirit Today, Sir
William Deane, Governor-General of Australia, 1996-2001, ANZAC Hall, Australian War
Memorial, Canberra. |
| [6] |
Submission of RSL (Victorian Branch), 22 July 2002. |
| [7] |
Submission of RSL (National
Headquarters), 12 June 2002. |
|
