As I mentioned in my previous post, this weekend Australians and New Zealanders are remembering all of the fallen heroes who fought for our freedom in past wars.
Each year we also pay tribute to all Australian servicemen and servicewomen when we go to the Brisbane CBD to watch the ANZAC day parade.
Marching today were veterans from all past wars, as well as current serving members of the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Defence Force Cadets and the Australian Air League.
There is one special veteran who always gets an extra special cheer from us each year....my dad!
He was a mechanical Engineer with the Australian army during the Vietnam War.
Slim Dusty sold more than seven million albums and singles in Australia and over the course of his career, he collected more gold and platinum albums than any other Australian artist.
He was the first Australian to receive a Gold Record, the first to have an international record hit, and the first singer in the world to have his voice beamed to earth from space!
SMH
SMH
He recorded and released his one-hundredth album in 2000 and became the very first music artist in the world ever to do so. He was then given the honour of singing Waltzing Matilda in the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, with the whole stadium singing along with him.
Dusty not only recorded songs written by himself but also recorded songs written by other fellow Australian performers. And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda is a song, written by Scottish-born singer-songwriter Eric Bogle in 1971. The song is an account of a young Australian soldier who is killed at the Battle of Gallipoli in World War I. In the song, the protagonist loses his legs in the battle, and later notes the passing of other veterans with time, as younger generations become apathetic to the veterans and their cause.
In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time. (Source of information)
So, here is a Sunday Song for you, Dad, and for all of the Australian men and women who have served for our country.
Thank you for visiting today. I am so thrilled you stopped by to visit me in my little corner of the world Down Under!
Best wishes for a beautiful week,
Great photos of today's parade. We went to our local service this morning - always so moving to hear the Last Post and to remember.
ReplyDeleteLovely post Natasha. We never miss the dawn service here in Brisbane, and this morning's was bigger than ever. My three teenagers are really into it, which is so nice to see in this day and age, and makes me a very proud mum. Hope you have a wonderful Anzac day,
ReplyDeleteKerri xx
Hey Natasha, wow I am loving your Anzac Day Post, and that SONG! I've never ehard it before, what a moving song. No wonder your dad loves it.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos too.
Thanks for sharing. I'll be your newest follower, my friend :)
Natasha,
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of an important parade. Thanks for sharing and thank you for stopping by.
Carol
Thanks so much for sharing pictures of the parade. It looks like you had lovely weather! And you must be so proud of your dad! I enjoyed this post, Natasha!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Jane
Nice photos and very interesting. I am sad because I have no technical equipment to hear the songs on my computer. Have a nice day and greetings to your dad, too.
ReplyDeleteJohanna
Good Morning and a happy ANZAC day to you all!
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that this day for you is like our Memorial Day here in the states. Don't you just love a military parade?!
Ah, "Waltzing Matilda." As a kid we learned that lovely song in our choir. The director explained the words with which we were not familiar and I think I actually had a favorite word - billabong -I
loved the way it sounded.
Beautiful post Natasha! I love to learn about other countries and their history. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat coverage Natasha!!!
ReplyDeleteYou could have been a cracker Jack Reporter!!!!
Happy Sunday,
xoxo~Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings...
Great photos, Natasha...a very nice tribute to your father and countrymen.
ReplyDeleteExcellent choice of song for today Natasha. Love your Anzac Day post. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteIt must be very spectacular... Great photos!!!
ReplyDeleteHello Natasha, thank you for your visit yesterday.
ReplyDeletethe parade is very heart warming. I am sure the soldiers are very happy to be honored. Great photos.
Hugs, Jeanne
A sweet hello from Frog Hollow Farm! This was such and inspiring and interesting post, thank you for sharing. Was that you dad in the khaki suit showing his medal? If so, he's adorable and it's a great photo! I'm listening to 'And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda' as I'm commenting! It's a great song and I love Slim Dusty's voice. Ciao, bella!
ReplyDeleteI like seeing the different holidays in Australia. I mean different than here. I am sure you know ours is called Memeorial day. Annie was hoping her class would have a party on the "dead day." She just really wants another class party :)
ReplyDeleteNatasha, I know how proud you are of your Dad. Thank him for serving for me, too. Great photos. Thank you for teaching me a bit about your history.
ReplyDeleteSeveral hours later and I finally get back to my comment (sometimes we have to curtail activities for family).
ReplyDeleteI think most everyone knows song "Waltzing Matilda," but I do not remember hearing, "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda."
I hope all kids there know this song; history in a song is a great way to teach new generations, and this song is applicable to any war.
Hello there big sister,
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing post. You bought tears tomy eyes. Actually, forget tears, looking at those photos and reading your commentary made me cry like the baby sister that I am. Oh dear, I really miss you and the family. Love the photo of Dad. Couldn't feel any prouder!
Lots of love,
Holly
xxxx
Natasha,
ReplyDeleteWhat great pictures and you must be so proud of your dad! My dad also served in the Vietnam War. Great Men! Enjoyed your song today and Happy to join in today, too!
Wendy
I love this tribute to your dad. I would love to click on the song, but the background info tells me that it hits way too close to home right now.
ReplyDeleteGod bless the brave soldiers, yesterday and today.
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day, too. I'm going to spend some time enjoying yours!
Natasha, Thanks for sharing your special day. great pics, and that song "The band played Waltzing Matilda" had me tearing up.
ReplyDeletePam
GREAT photos Natasha!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing blog post, really loved reading it (and hearing it!)
ReplyDeletealicia
What a lovely tribute to freedom fighters in your country. Their service to your country and our world is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteMimi
hi natasha!
ReplyDeletethank you for the moving piece on
your brave 'young' men. where would
we be without them?
thanks for letting me link to your songfest,
too.
love,
lea
Thanks for the little insight into ANZAC Day. My hubby's family has several members who were schooled Down Under, but I know very little except for the experiences from our vacations there.
ReplyDelete