ANZAC DAY IN THE RIVERINA AND CENTRAL WEST

ANZAC Day this year will be unlike any other in living memory.

And now, more than ever, we all need to invoke the spirit of our ANZACs across the Riverina and Central West.

ANZAC Day is Australia’s most important day and it is imperative we take the time to reflect on those who died on battlefields thousands of kilometres from their homes and loved ones.

We should never forget those who were fortunate to make it back home, as they were left to carry a heavy burden upon their shoulders – both mentally and physically.

Our Diggers showed great loyalty and mateship which has become the benchmark for our modern Australian defence personnel to follow.

The difficult decision to cancel the traditional ANZAC Day services across the nation has been made in the interests of public safety and the health and wellbeing of our local communities – especially our older veterans who are the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whilst we cannot gather in large numbers to attend marches and ceremonies, we can still pay our respects in other ways.

The Australian War Memorial will be televising its national Dawn Service on the ABC. I urge everyone in the Riverina and Central West to take this opportunity to pause and remember the service and sacrifice of all Australians who have fought and died in all wars, conflicts and peace-keeping operations over more than a century of service.

I encourage you to make time to observe a minute’s silence during ANZAC Day to send a clear message of respect for our servicemen and women despite the significant challenges we face today.

You can take a modern approach to paying your respects by using the power of social media. Use the hashtags #AnzacAtHome and #TYFYS (thank you for your service) to share pictures and videos of your commemorations.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has developed a range of resources to assist Australians to commemorate ANZAC Day which can be downloaded from www.anzacportal.dva.gov.au.

Everyone in the electorate should have received my annual ANZAC Day commemorative booklet. Please read the stories of our local heroes along with the winning entries from school students who have thoughtfully taken the time to imagine living during a time of war and great peril.

Whether you choose to bake ANZAC biscuits, set up a tribute in your driveway or livestream your own private ANZAC service through social media – I encourage you to commemorate this ANZAC Day in your own unique way.

Lest We Forget.

Shane Manning