ANZAC DAY 2016 – A quiet one

poppy and rosemaryAbalinx – Peter Adamis – 25 April 2016

A quiet response on my part this year. In Watsonia, not far from Simpson barracks, located across the road from the Watsonia RSL, I watched the procession from the driveway. My immune system post stem cell transplant was not the best to be mingle amongst the crowd. A copy of the article may be downloaded by clicking on: ANZAC DAY 2016 – A QUIET ONE

I found the crowd down in numbers this year despite the warm weather. After a short interval of observing and listening I went back inside and listened to the speeches from home. I wrote on social media and responded to a myriad of mobile text messages that had been sent in response to mine.

As always ANZAC Day is one of refection. I thought of every mate I could think of who had gone and wrote their name on a piece of paper. Later in the afternoon I went over to the RSL and into the members bar. I had a beer and paid my respects to the member’s names I had written down, with a special mention for one bloke a non-military member who was a great Aussie Battler, Tom Love was his name.

It is true that “we shall remember them”. At the members’ bar, I sat down quietly at a table and slowly drank my traditional beer reading out the names of my mates. I looked around and saw many faces of which I knew not one. The noise was unbelievable as the chatter of many voices overwhelmed me and I realised it was not a place for me given my health status and it was time to go. I felt that I had completed my traditional mission of respect.

I would prefer to believe that ANZAC Day will one day come to reflect the true meaning of what it was meant to be. One of remembrance and reflection. At the end of my silent tribute, I stood up and walked out. Duty had been done and there was no need for me to hinder others from enjoying themselves. In any case I preferred to be left alone, deep in my own thoughts.

2016 for me is of reflection and recovery and not to dwell on what could have been but to ensure that whatever time we have left is not squander in futile objectives that lead to nowhere. I intend to make life more meaningful and worthwhile, worthy of those who had a hand in making me who I am today.   Life as we know it can only be sustained by vigilance and with that vigilance comes responsibility.

PETER ADAMIS 18 APRIL 2016Peter Adamis is a Journalist/Social Media Commentator and writer. He is a retired Australian military serviceman and an Industry organisational & Occupational (OHS) & Training Consultant whose interests are within the parameters of domestic and international political spectrum.  He is an avid blogger and contributes to domestic and international community news media outlets as well as to local and Ethnic News. 

He holds a Bachelor   of Adult Learning & Development (Monash), Grad Dip Occupational Health & Safety, (Monash), Dip. Training & Assessment, Dip Public Administration, and Dip Frontline Management. Website: abalinx.com Contact via Email: [email protected] or via Mobile: 0409965538

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