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| Walls lined with poppies commemorate the lives lost for us. |
The ghost of the young
digger sits on the hill, as he does every year on Anzac. As he watches the sun
rise on the horizon, bathing down on the record crowds surrounding Anzac Cove.
Tears well in his eye as the memories from that dark brisk morning overcome him.
He and his mates did not need orders, for as soon as the cove was in reach the
heroes climbed from the boats with high hopes and ready for a battle; little
did they know they would battle to their deaths.
Fifty eight years ago
Alan Seymour wrote his controversial play The
One Day of the Year. He never imagined that society’s impressions of Anzac
Day would change from what they once were.
The One Day of the Year was inspired by an article in the
University of Sydney newspaper Honi Soit. The article criticized the use of a
marked holiday provided for the public on Anzac Day to commemorate the lives
lost. Seymour’s play contains the once-heretical perspective that Anzac Day -
the proud emblem of Australia's military sacrifice - was founded on confused ideals
and often degenerated into a squalid orgy of drunkenness and street brawls.
In
corroboration of the article, Alan Seymour states, “my own impressions of the commemoration were shaped in the 1950s… on
Anzac Day when I left my home… I returned to a frightening scene - drunken men
brawling and vomiting in the street.” From this statement it could be
guessed that Seymour reflects his own personal views through the actions and
words of the main character, Hughie.
Hughie
is a university student who helps his girl-friend, Jan, take pictures for a
newspaper article about the celebrations of Anzac Day.
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| Crowds from all over the world fill Anzac Cove to remember the lost diggers. |
Since
the article published in the Honi Soit
and the publication of Seymour’s playwright Anzac Day and the views shared of
it have changed immensely. Some locations have banned alcohol and over recent
years record breaking crowds have attended nationwide dawn and day
services/marches. The memory of the Anzacs still lives on.
Despite
the views Alan Seymour has conveyed, Anzac Day, instead of being forgotten after
almost 100 years is now being celebrated more than ever, no matter the weather.
A maintenance worker at Melbourne’s remembrance shrine pointed
out, “Although it was cold and wet
thousands of people, especially youth, gathered at the shrine today to pay
their respect to the lost lives of diggers and Anzacs”.
If you have recently been to an Anzac Day march you may have
noticed children lining the streets who have begged their parents to come and
watch, embrace and remember those lives lost for the future of our nation.
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| Youth supporting marches across the globe |
To me what is so noticeable is that the youth and the future
generations of the nation are educated on the importance of remembering those who
were lost fighting for our nations freedom. Prime Minister Julia Gillard
states: “When you can see that kind of
enthusiasm and embrace by our youngest Australians for commemorating Anzac Day
and for what is means for them, then I think we can say as a nation it’s an
important part of our national identity.”
The perspective of Seymour and the reality of today’s
celebrations for Anzac Day are immeasurably different. They are influenced by
difference in generations, beliefs, races and ways that each individual is
brought up.
Although everyone has different perspectives, the spirit of
the Anzacs will continue to be embraced for years to come. Those Anzac heroes
shall not grow old as we that are left grow old, but in fact become younger
with celebrations, to commemorate the diggers, becoming livelier and more
diverse. Generations come and go, and
knowledge and stories are passed on.
M & L
