CAMERON Smith, the winner of Kiama’s inaugural Centenary of Anzac Essay Competition used family defence force ties as inspiration for his winning entry.
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Kiama High year 12 student Cameron aid he was delighted to have won such a prestigious award.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the whole project and never realised just how much the war effected Australia, including our agricultural areas with so many young people lost off the land.
“My family ties to our defence forces, with my dad serving in the Navy, gave me the inspiration, and I am very, very happy to win the award.’’
Competition organiser, Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, praised all 55 entrants and announced Cameron as the winner on Tuesday.
Mr Ward made an award presentation to Cameron, joined by Kiama-Jamberoo RSL Sub-Branch president and secretary respectively, Ian Pullar and Dennis Seage.
“It was indeed a difficult decision, with the most pleasing thing being than we had so many quality entries, and I want to sincerely thank and congratulate Cameron for his brilliant contribution,’’ Mr Ward said.
‘‘He will receive $500 cash as his prize for winning this competition. I was thoroughly impressed by the quality, thought nd excellent research which went into Cameron’s essay.
‘‘The Centenary of Anzac is important to all Australians, as we commemorate the service and sacrifice made by Australian men and women in the First World War.
‘‘It is incumbent upon us and generations of Australian’s to come, to pause to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, so that we may live free today.’’
Kiama-Jamberoo RSL president Ian Pullar said it was important for young people to fully realise the sacrifices Australia made during both world wars.
“It is important that we have a succession of knowledge through our young people and it’s wonderful that so many were willing to research this project and take time to research what actually happened and the sacrifices we made in World War I,” Mr Pullar said.
Here is Cameron’s essay:
The Centenary of ANZAC and its importance to our country?
By Cameron Smith (Year 11 Kiama High)
The Centenary of ANZAC commemorates the sacrifice and service of Australians in the First World War and marks the continuing importance of this catastrophic experience to Australians today. The Centenary of ANZAC is highly important as the First World War united the nation, led to a more independent modernised Nation, ignited a modern cultural identity and impacted the Australian way of life. These impacts have reverberated through the following one hundred years and have fundamentally reshaped Australia and this is why Australians of all ages still connect to the ANZAC legend.
The First World War unified Australia as one country fighting for a cause and this impact is still felt today. Australia federated on January 1st 1901 but people still connected more with their State and Britain than the new Dominion Australia. Federation was granted to the people easily after a wave of nationalism fanned in the 1890’s in the red pages of the ‘Bulletin’ and other media. However, this sense of Australia and being Australian quickly subsided with union easily won. The First World War helped to truly unite the country in three main ways. First, the country united in a common purpose to mobilize to support a national effort on a global scale, beyond previous experience. Secondly united the country through allied propaganda against the enemy and thirdly united through grief of the suffering due to the sacrifice and loss of life that affected every town in every state in Australia. The war left Australia united with Australians identifying more of being Australians and thus nationalism flooded the country. This unity ensured the Australian Federation’s survival through trying times such as the Great Depression and the direct threat to the survival of the nation from Japan in the Second World War. It remains a matter of speculation whether a weaker federation, not forged by the bittersweet experience of the First World War, would have survived these challenges. This make it highly important to the Centenary of ANZAC as the effects have left Australia a Nation united, stronger than at Federation, ‘punching well above its weight’ in international matters.
Australia entered the First World War highly dependent on the British but emerged from the war a more independent and modernised nation and this can be seen in all aspects of society. This independence and modernization can be shown through Foreign Affairs and economics. The change in Foreign policy was significant as previously in Australia’s history, Britain had handled Australia’s Foreign Interest. This can be shown by Australia sending its own delegation to the Paris Peace conference in 1919 and the bigger affair into regional affairs in the Pacific nations. The war helped to modernise the Australian economy as there was huge demand for Australian goods, trade embargos and a significant drop in imports to Australia meant that more Industry and factories came out of the war with an estimated 400 more products were produced in Australia. The loss of manpower in agriculture led to these communities to become modernised speeding the widespread introduction of machinery in the paddock. The expansion of the steel industry had a significant impact in Australia and set the path for further industrialisation. As the Second World War in reality was a continuation of the first it would lead to much more independence from Britain and closer ties with the United States of America and lead to major economic transformation into a powerful modern and diversified economy. This in important as part of the Centenary as the economic modernisation and the more independent Australian politicians that emerged from the first world war has helped shape Australia into a modern, wealthy, strong and independent Nation.
The centenary marks one hundred years since the formation of the modern Australian Identity. Prior to the war Australians identified as part of a pioneering culture opening up and farming the bush, and pushing the boundaries internally within Australia. Our country emerged from the battlefields of the First World War such as in Gallipoli, and Passchendaele with a new national cultural identity. This identity was formed around ‘the Diggers’ that fought bravely and died in the mud, and who created the myth of the Australian soldier and the myth of mateship. This myth of myth of mateship and the Australian culture originated with citizen volunteers who came together as mates and brothers in arms, bound in comradery in geographically based battalions, and who helped each other endure the great hardship of the terrors of World War One. This myth of mateship went along with the Myth of the Australian soldier who was a brave, fearless, larrikin who fought like devils on the front. These myths helped to form a modern cultural identity of loyalty to each other and an egalitarian society based on support and giving one another a fair go. This helps to give importance to the centenary of ANZAC and the ANZAC legend as it celebrates the birth of our national cultural identity that arose from the Australian soldiers fighting in the European trenches of the First World War.
The ANZAC Centenary marks the one hundred years since over 400, 000 Australian’s went to war and the ones to return would be forever shaped by the experience. Of the soldiers who went to the war 65% would become casualties with about 60, 000 of these men dead. This had a huge impact on a country with only a population of nearly five million. The equivalent of this today would be 185, 0000 in uniform with 278 000 of these men dead and over a million casualties. This helps to show the decimation of the male population in Australia at the time. The shattered soldiers returning home mentally and physically affected shattered the image of the 19th century romantic image of warfare which was completely different from the new reality of industrial warfare dominated by attrition tactics. This had huge effects on Australia at the time with the dealings of this human impact. These casualties put a huge strain onto families. Many soldiers suffered ‘shell shock’, now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which proved very difficult to understand at the time, where men suffering from its effects in extreme cases were thrown into mental asylums. This impact would reshape Australian society’s knowledge into the effects of the war. The ANZAC centenary is important to our country in remembering these men’s sacrifices and losses that helped to ensure the freedom and prosperity of our Nation.
Australians of all ages still connect and remember the ANZAC legend every year and the Centenary of ANZAC one hundred years on is more important than ever as an increasing amount of people reconnect with the past. Australians of all ages still every year visit graves, memorials and sites from the First World War and other consequent wars today. This helps to show how the ANZAC legend is still important to all Australians today. Anzac Day on the 25th April originated from the first Australian landings at Gallipoli is especially important to Australians as a day of national remembrance and this is shown by hundreds of thousands of people coming together in their communities and remembering the fallen. Though people are sad when they hear about the tens of thousands sacrificed they continue to be proud of what they have achieved peace, prosperity and freedom. The Centenary is especially important to our country, Australia as it gives reverence and expresses gratitude for these peoples service and sacrifice that has shaped the modern Australia that we live in today.
The Centenary of ANZAC marks the one hundred year anniversary of the service and sacrifice of Australians in War. This service and sacrifice has made Australia stronger, united, independent and with a modern cultural Identity. As a Nation it is highly important to mark this anniversary and reflect on the service and sacrifice of those military personal who have gone before us. Contemporary Australia faces similar security challenges of those faced a hundred years and is important that we learn the lessons, both good and bad and stay true to the spirit of the ANZAC legend. Lest we forget.
Bibliography
http://www.anzaccentenary.gov.au/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Australia_during_World_War_I
http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww1/homefront/economy.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Passchendaele
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larrikin
https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1GGGE___AU558AU558&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=calculator
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/ptsd
http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/anzac-tradition/
Ross, Jane, 1985, The Myth of the Australian Digger, Sydney, Hale & Iremonger Pty Limited, pp.72-86