On Diggers and Other Issues
Monday, April 28th, 2008Babette Smith; 26/4/08
Once again, Australians have gathered in their thousands at Gallipoli. Some opponents of this annual pilgrimage by a younger generation claim it glorifies war. Others blame politicians for overemphasising the commemoration of Gallipoli. Young Australians remain steadfast in their determination to mark Anzac Day with the journey, however, despite claims that their faith and their interest is misplaced. At Gallipoli in 2006, one young Australian explained quite clearly what it meant to them, telling a journalist, “It’s not about empire. It’s about us.” And they are right. The qualities that this generation identifies with in World War I Diggers run deep in Australian society, right back to the convict era. No connection is generally recognised between the colonies’ prisoners and their military heirs, but evidence for the link is not hard to find.
