Women will lead Launceston’s Anzac Day march today for the first time in the city’s history.
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Indeed, servicewomen will do the same at many parades in cities and towns around Australia.
It is part of a movement called By The Left, which by its own cry, hopes to “broaden the public's perception of what a veteran looks like. Veterans are young, old, male, female, current and ex-serving”.
This sort of movement is not about dishonouring the Anzacs, or those “original veterans”, of the World Wars or the Vietnam and Korean wars.
It is about creating a space where all returned service men and women, and those still serving, are given the respect and thanks they deserve.
As Launceston veteran Raylene Garwood said, the decision for women to lead this year’s march has nothing to do with gender politics.
As we reach the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I, the Anzac spirit becomes further entrenched in our history. No less relevant, but within less recent history.
Veterans and members of RSL sub-branches have long said that the next challenge for Anzac Day is passing the legacy and lessons onto the next generations.
The Anzacs and those who served in World War II and Vietnam will never be forgotten, and never far from our thoughts on April 25.
But it is time to also acknowledge the new generation of veterans, who have served in conflicts that differ vastly from traditional war.
These are the veterans whose medals the next generation will wear on their right-hand side, come commemorative occasions.
These are the veterans, and current defence force personnel, who leave their families and friends for months at a time, to represent Australia in overseas missions.
By acknowledging these veterans, we are creating a new generation that will attend Anzac Day services, march proudly through the streets, and hold a deeper understanding of what sacrifice means.
As Ms Garwood said: “The beauty of the inclusivity of this march is it doesn’t matter where or when you served, this is about honouring all those who served and just giving them a place this year. It’s recognising that Australia has a new generation of veterans.”
Lest We Forget, all our veterans.