* 25 April 2022 *
Janna Voloshin, Chief Executive Officer, Vasey RSL Care
ANZAC Day – a day of commemoration.
For those who’ve lost someone in war, or service – a day of memories, grief, loss.
For us here, living in peace and freedom – a day of immense gratitude.
Today, around Australia and New Zealand, and at memorials all over the world, we honour our servicemen and women, past and present, and remember all who gave their lives.
This year, I find it difficult to think about ANZAC Day and the sacrifices of our forces without my thoughts turning to what’s happening in Ukraine in a new tragic and unwanted war.
It’s close to home for me: it’s being fought an hour from the city of my birth, on the land of my husband’s birth, in a country that lies between Russia and ‘the west’, in both geography and ethos.
It’s horrifying and heart-breaking to see lives shattered, death and ruin, cities turned to rubble, and nearly a quarter of the population displaced. War – any war – creates misery and destruction.
162 Ukrainian children have been killed in this war and 256 children injured1. When the killing eventually stops, the misery will go on for generations. How do the parents of these children face the future, when our children ARE the future?
My children, now adults, have both Russian and Ukrainian heritage. Their roots are in this newest war zone, but their lives are here in Melbourne. When I look at them, I am more grateful than I can ever express for the gift that Australia has given us: my heart goes out to all those who are fighting to protect their freedom, at great cost.
Past Israeli politician and military leader, Moshe Dayan, is quoted as saying, “freedom is the oxygen of the soul”2. Our ANZAC forces have fought for our freedom from tyranny in two World Wars, and numerous other wars, and we are the beneficiaries of their service.
Right now, Australian Defence Forces are on operations in the Middle East, South Korea, North East Asia, South East Asia, South Sudan, Mali, Iraq, Egypt, Israel and across the whole Pacific region, on land, at sea and in the air.
Australian Defence Forces collaborate with coalitions and friendly powers to maintain the way of life we are so very fortunate to have. Today – and every other day of the year – our forces are:
We don’t expect a war to occur on our shores – but neither did the people of Ukraine.
They didn’t expect to be refugees in neighbouring countries, or having to stay and join their army. They didn’t expect to be living in cellars to avoid bombs, or burying their children. Older people didn’t expect to be told to evacuate, without the means to do so or anywhere to go.
ANZAC Day reminds us of the men and women of Australia, past, present and future, who put our country and our freedom first.
As the situation in Ukraine has shown us, peace is fragile and can never be taken for granted.
Those who preserve our freedom deserve recognition, respect and honour, and especially our gratitude, today and every day.
I am proud to be able to play my small part in supporting veterans and war widows and I am grateful for the opportunity to Serve Those Who Served.
Lest we forget.
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1 Source: https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2022/04/ukraine-civilian-casualty-update-15-april-2022
2 Source: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/moshe_dayan_105884?src=t_freedom
3 Source: https://www.defence.gov.au/operations
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