Why Is Anzac Day Important

Australians at home and abroad celebrated Anzac Day on 25 April 2015 as they do every year, but that year was a little different. It was the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli in Turkey by Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac), an ill-fated initiative that ended with the deaths of 216,000 Anzacs. This day has become an iconic event in Australia’s national identity, with an increasing public involvement and a broader focus that now includes Australian soldiers in WWII (1939-45) and Vietnam (1962-75). It is an important symbol of national pride and remembrance that unites all Australians every year, reinforcing values such as democracy, equality and mateship. However, in the 21st century, it can also be seen as a glorification of unnecessary involvement in wars such as the Vietnam and Iraq Wars and of the tragic mistakes in war that lead to suffering and loss. It can also be seen as having a Eurocentric and patriarchal focus which excludes minority groups such as aboriginal soldiers, nurses and others who played a vital role and did their duty. This can be seen as making Anzac Day celebrations irrelevant in modern day society.
It is a considered concept that all Anzacs share the characteristics of endurance, courage, ingenuity, loyalty, good humor, equality, friendship and larrikinism. “Those who fought…changed forever the way we saw our world and ourselves”, this forms a clear image for the loyalty they had to Australia. This quote from quote amplifies the point that former Prime Minister John Howard was pointing to that the Anzac story is significant contribution to the Anzac Day