Today was our day off and I decided that I would go to the Shrine of Remembrance to pay my respects. My car is currently being serviced so I took a couple of trams to get to my destination.
Every ANZAC Day I have created my own personal tradition which involves going to the Shrine of Remembrance to pay my respects to the eternal legacy which shapes our culture as Australians. I find by doing this it reminds me of the occasion and I gain great perspective on how privileged I am to be taking part in such a great day.
My guide at the shrine was a man by the name of Ralph Boyne. Coincidentally Ralph’s twin brother Peter Boyne played at Collingwood and was a full-back who wore number 8! He played 60 Collingwood games including a grand final which Collingwood unfortunately lost.Ralph explained many facts and stories about the significance of the Shrine. The things that stood out to me were some statistics.
In World War I, there were around 350,000 Australian men and women that served, 65,000 were killed and 150,000 were wounded.
In Gallipoli there were 40,000 Australians that served and 8,000 were killed.In 1916 in the Battle of Fromelles in France in the space of 24 hours there were over 5,000 Australians killed.
It is statistics like these, which echoed through my heart as I began to reacquaint myself with the significance of the occasion.
The one thing, which touched my heart the most, was when I heard the last post at the Sanctuary. Of the 65,000 Australian’s who lost their lives in World War I only two bodies were recovered and given a proper burial in Australia. The Stone of Remembrance in the Sanctuary symbolizes the tombstone of all those who did not have a proper burial.
As the last post played the word inscribed on the stone became inscribed in my heart. “Greater Love Hath No Man” taken from the Bible in the Book of John 15:13The full version of the verse says “Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.
Meaning, the greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends, which is what epitomizes what the ANZAC spirit is all about.
You can never compare a sport to war. We will never be required to put our lives on the line; however I know one thing… come Saturday my teammates and I will be more than prepared to lay our bodies on the line for each other.
Lest we forget our great servicemen and women who served and are currently serving our country.
