Key Takeaways
- Anzac Day on 25 April serves as a national moment of remembrance for the over two million Australians who have served since the Gallipoli landing in 1915.
- Personal stories from veterans, serving members, and youth illustrate how the Anzac spirit of sacrifice, bravery, and mateship continues to be lived and transmitted across generations.
- Intergenerational participation—such as former soldiers marching with families and cadets honoring the day—helps ensure that the lessons of service remain relevant for future Australians.
- The experiences of individuals like combat medic Ryan Cripps, cadet Catrina Maree Meldrum, and centenarian RAAF pilot Gerard Lanigan highlight diverse pathways of service and the enduring impact of those who have worn the uniform.
Anzac Day: A Nationwide Act of Remembrance
Every year on 25 April, Australians pause to honour the Anzacs who landed at Gallipoli in 1915 and the more than two million men and women who have served the country since. Dawn services, marches, and quiet moments of reflection take place in cities and towns from Tasmania to the Top End, uniting communities in a shared narrative of sacrifice, bravery, and mateship. The day is not only a look back at historic battles but also an opportunity to recognise contemporary service and to pass on the values that have shaped national identity.
Ryan Cripps: Combat Medic and Mate
Corporal Ryan Cripps served as a combat medic in Afghanistan and today joined a group of former army mates in Launceston, Tasmania, to march in honour of their late colleague, Richard Atkinson. Cripps explained that he and his mates were part of “Combat Team Charlie, the Jackals,” a close‑knit unit that first came together a decade ago alongside Atkinson’s brother and grandfather, a World War II veteran. The reunion in Launceston was a deliberate act of remembrance, bringing together men who had served together and now travelled from across Australia to pay their respects to a fallen friend.
Honouring the Past for the Next Generation
For Cripps, the gathering was “not just for us” but a bridge to younger Australians. He stressed the importance of involving children in the ceremonies so they can grasp what the Anzac spirit truly means. By seeing veterans march, hearing their stories, and participating in the dawn service, young people gain a tangible connection to the values of service and camaraderie that have defined Australia’s military history. Cripps hopes that this exposure will inspire the next generation to uphold those ideals in their own lives.
Bringing Kids Into the Ceremony
“We really want them to understand what it is about,” Cripps said, noting that the presence of families at the march transforms a solemn remembrance into a living lesson. When children witness the respect shown to veterans, hear the cadence of boots on the pavement, and observe the quiet pride in older soldiers’ eyes, the abstract concepts of sacrifice and mateship become concrete. This intergenerational exchange helps cement the Anzac legacy in the national consciousness, ensuring that its lessons are not confined to history books but lived in everyday attitudes.
Catrina Maree Meldrum: A Cadet’s Perspective
Seventeen‑year‑old Cadet Under Officer Catrina Maree Meldrum marched in the Darwin Dawn Service as part of the army cadet contingent. She described Anzac Day as “a really big part of history” that she had learned about in school but only truly grasped when standing among veterans and feeling the scale of their collective sacrifice. For Catrina, the ceremony transformed abstract historical facts into a personal appreciation of the courage displayed by ordinary men and women who served for a greater cause.
Inspiration From a Serving Sister
Catrina’s pride in honouring the Anzacs is deepened by the fact that her older sister is currently serving as a medic in the Australian Defence Force. Seeing her sister carry on the tradition of service reinforces Catrina’s belief that the sacrifices of past veterans have not been in vain. She told veterans, “What you’ve done in your life hasn’t gone to waste,” and expressed that her generation sees, loves, and draws inspiration from their example. The cadet’s words highlight how contemporary service members serve as living links between past heroism and future aspiration.
Gerard Lanigan: A Centenarian Pilot’s Wartime Journey
On the opposite side of the country, 100‑year‑old Gerard Lanigan watched Albany, Western Australia’s 2026 Anzac Day march from his aged‑care home. Lanigan recalled his childhood dream of flying planes, a dream that was realised when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1943 at the age of eighteen. Having never flown before, his enlistment marked the start of rigorous training as a trainee bomber pilot during World II. Lanigan’s story exemplifies how the war opened unexpected pathways for young Australians, turning personal ambitions into wartime service.
Training in Canada and the Atomic Bomb’s Impact
Lanigan first flew a Tiger Moth in 1944 before being sent to Canada to complete his pilot training. He described the experience as an eye‑opening adventure, especially the novelty of seeing snow for the first time—a stark contrast to the landscapes of Western Australia. When his training concluded, the war was already ending; the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki effectively rendered bomber squadrons obsolete. Lanigan admitted feeling frustration at having completed extensive training only to see their purpose nullified, yet he also recognised that the bomb’s use spared many bomber pilots from the high mortality rates faced by their counterparts in the Pacific theatre.
Lanigan’s Reflection on Anzac Day and Memory
Despite never seeing frontline combat as a bomber pilot, Lanigan carries vivid memories of his service and views Anzac Day as a vital occasion to commemorate that chapter of his life. He appreciates the day as a moment to honour not only those who fought on the front lines but also the countless support personnel whose contributions made victory possible. For Lanigan, Anzac Day serves as a reminder that service—whether in combat, medicine, logistics, or training—shapes the nation’s character and deserves ongoing respect and remembrance from all Australians.