ANZAC 100th Tribute by Me n Annie

This has been a very eventful week leading up to this 100th Anniversary of ANZAC Day ( New Zealand Army Corps. On the 25th of April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula.) On Tuesdays I have a regular 3 hour show from 3 pm to 6 pm ( http://www.frasercoast.fm/ ) and my very first interview was with a representative from the RSL ( Returned & Services League of Australia ) by the name of Brian and questions I asked re this Centenary event were answered with great ease & skill. I played Songs and Music that depicted the horrors of War . Friends 0f ours were in attendance in the Parade thru the Hervey Bays Streets

Paul with the JEEP he supplied

Barry

The Parade was attended by a large crowd and reports in this 100th year attendances thru out Australia were at record numbers.It was heart warming to see so many kids attending on their usually day off ( the 25 th fell on a Saturday this year ,BUT if the 25th falls on a week day a Public Holiday is declared,maybe something the British should do?) OlsdWar vehicles were also brought out for this day and looked rather splendid in their Army colours.My radio colleagues were in attendance with Paul providing his rebuilt Jeep and other Radio friend Barry,both were wearing medals

On Thursday last we were privileged to attend the memorial service at Masters Lodge where Annie and myself have volunteered our services and made a lot of friends (Sadly on this day a 97 yr old chum passed away , his war injury was sustained during WW2 ,his leg being shot by a warplane ! He will be sadly missed, a true gentleman to the end R.I.P Sid) The remaining Diggers & Sailors presented wreaths on the decorated tabled that was surrounded by pictures taken 100 yrs ago at Gallipoli.The residents were treated to a show by 3 very competent musicians (Piano,Guitar and Saxophone) Singing lots of the old (cheery) songs which the other guests sang along to and thoroughly enjoyed as I did

TV Stations thru out the Day were televising all Gallipoli events during the day and Patriotism was at its very best .TWO up was a very (and illegal still to this day) popular gambling game BUT authorities turn a “Blind Eye” to this wonderful ( but can be costly) back street game of chance on every April the 25 th (It is now become obligatory for the game to be played on this day and is now part of the Australian history and tradition)

Thanks to Wikipedia Two-up is a traditional Australian gambling game, involving a designated “spinner” throwing two coins or pennies into the air. Players gamble on whether the coins will fall with both heads (obverse) up, both tails (reverse) up, or with one coin a head, and one a tail (known as “odds”). It is traditionally played on ANZAC Day in pubs and clubs throughout Australia, in part to mark a shared experience with diggers through the ages.The game is traditionally played with pennies– their weight, size, and surface design make them ideal for the game. Weight and size make them stable on the “kip” and easy to spin in the air. Decimal coins are generally considered to be too small and light and they don’t fly so well. The design of pre-1939 pennies had the sovereign’s head on the obverse (front) and the reverse was totally covered in writing making the result very easy and quick to see. Pennies can often be observed being used at games on Anzac Day, as they are brought out specifically for this purpose each year.