Government & Politics

Errolsyd

Government & Politics

Posted by: errolsyd

20th Feb 2011 10:52pm

Are we showing the respect to our Diggers, past and present that they deserve? Do we have the understanding of what our Diggers have done for us.


Comments 34

Jill
  • 17th Mar 2012 08:36pm

no....it,s that simple.......we do not have an understanding of what our diggers have done and are still doing

Anonymous
  • 21st Mar 2011 02:53pm

I think the young are starting to realize what our Diggers are doing and what they have done, we probably need to get more news coverage from the Defence Forces to what our boys are up to now. My son is a Digger - has had a tour of Iraq, East Timor, and currently in Afghanistan. My father was in the Light Horse, and I was in the WRAAF - and it makes me a little angry when I hear people say we don't need to be involved in these wars and forget that our solders are doing their jobs, the jobs that they are trained to do. What would happen if Australia was attacked - who would we turn to????our boys or rely on other nations? I'd put my money on our boys any day.

poss777
  • 18th Mar 2011 04:12pm

no we definitely do not give our diggers the respect they earned! Our returned diggers suffer everday of their lives. Nightmares, flasbacks, horrors that we can never understand or even contemplate that our soldiers have seen, fought for, died for and then come home to a Government system that doesn't care about them. I fought DVA for 18 months for my husband to be allowed to get his teeth fixed by a dentist. They sent him to a genocide in Rwanda and no one cares that he suffers so horribly from seeing, tasting, smelling the nightmare of seeing of 100,000 innocent women and children hacked to death by machete and swords. No cares that other soldiers are dealing exactly the same way as my husband and live in cars, parks, on beaches hidden away from the people they swore to serve. They live alone, they die alone and the the Government agency set up to help them (DVA) treats them like cattle and deny them the most basic of human decency. Yes they get a pension but they live lives of horror, lonliness knowing that no one cares about them. ANZAC day isn't and shouldn't be one day a year but everyday. Our soldiers suffer in silence because no one cares.

AURELLA
  • 18th Mar 2011 11:57am

Hi Errol, one of the ways to understand what the Diggers did for us is to go to Anzac Cove in Turkey. I was there in 2009 and it was just the most emotional time for our group as we walked amonst the graves of all those , mainly young, men who gave their lives for us. Most of us wandered around crying, with the very strong feeling that the spirits of those brave men were walking with us. If at all possible I do believe that all Australians should visit Anzac Cove at some time....Aurella

wombat
  • 18th Mar 2011 02:11am

I never cease to be amazed at how much respect schoolchildren give to our Anzacs and War Veterans. I believe that it is after we leave school our respect diminishes for the Military and Veterans.In my day ( I grew up in England in the 50's and 60's ) we did show them respect.When I came to Australia in 1966 I found respect for veterans was very prominent.But as the Vietnam car came to our TV screens every night we treated Vietnam Veterans with outright contempt and some young people in Universities accused our conscripted troops of horrible crimes and actually spat on them.I believe Australian soldiers , sailors and airmen have a well deserved reputation of fighting with honour and common decency.This unfortunately cannot be said to be true of a minority of American troops.It must be remembered that the Viet Cong like the insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan have had no qualms about who they kill, how they kill and where they kill.I salute all our Veterans and Military for the job they do.I know that even today some Australians make the supreme sacrifice.May God Bless them all.

Pete
  • 17th Mar 2011 11:20pm

Don't know how old you are, but I'm old enough to have been conscripted for Vietnam. I missed the ballot. I wasn't sorry about that because I didn't really agree with our involvement. That said, I was absolutely disgusted with the treatment many people gave our Diggers returning from that war. I've always believed that whether you believe in the cause or not, you show the utmost respect to the brave young men who do their duty to their nation by answering the call to arms.

errolsyd
  • 11th Apr 2011 09:25pm
Don't know how old you are, but I'm old enough to have been conscripted for Vietnam. I missed the ballot. I wasn't sorry about that because I didn't really agree with our involvement. That said, I...

Hi Pete, yes I received my call up papers but was rejected on medical grounds,now I am not sorry that I didn't go as I have seen the results of Vietnam on those who did come home. Not only did Nam change them but so did the way our gutless miniority treated them on their return to the country they fought for.Apart from all those MEN & WOMEN that gave their lives for our country who knows what damage the survivors bought home with them, so much terrible sights and sounds we can only imagine. Nothing is too good for those who served their country in war or peace. AUSTRALIA 4 EVER

Patria
  • 17th Mar 2011 03:53pm

I don't think that we do show enough respect for our diggers, and I think it's a real shame. In fact, some young people don't seem to have a lot of respect for anyone. It probably goes back to schools and education. My daughter is 10 and she just learned about WW1, but it seemed such a brush over. I was so disappointed by it that I borrowed some literature from the local library for her to read about it more in depth, and get a better understanding and respect.

Lynjoy
  • 17th Mar 2011 02:24pm

Good on You Errrol.

ozziedigger
  • 17th Mar 2011 12:35pm

No Errol,a large % of so called aussies couldn`t give a flying hiccup about our defence forces.
Think back to the 60`s,Viet nam and protesters.e.g.aust public spitting on and
abusing returning soldiers(in uniform) at their welcome home march through the city.After this,many soldiers were discharged.They scattered and we only heard of them again if we read their obituary r.e.their suicide.
Many many truths have surfaced about the govt. not paying a measerly pension to these unrepairable heroes,further disabling the once proud diggers.
I can also report on our latest representative heroes,as my son was wounded in Iraq,but I can`t fill this post up,I give someone else a go.

ozziedigger
  • 27th Mar 2011 08:31pm
The veterans of all australian conflicts have had mud thrown in there face baby killers racist and many other things but yes i believe it is a discrace how veterans are treated and what they have...

yes squizzy,it`s a shame these blokes who went through all the training to get ready to defend Australia,but through one reason or another never made it overseas to fight,again it`s a shame they may feel inferior.But they were ready to do whatever was required of them,and I for one feel very proud of them.
I know these fellas have had mixed feelings for years,but hold your head up high
men and be proud,you deserve it.
I was a natio in `67 and served in viet-nam in 68-`69.

squizzy
  • 27th Mar 2011 06:25pm
No Errol,a large % of so called aussies couldn`t give a flying hiccup about our defence forces.
Think back to the 60`s,Viet nam and protesters.e.g.aust public spitting on and
abusing...

The veterans of all australian conflicts have had mud thrown in there face baby killers racist and many other things but yes i believe it is a discrace how veterans are treated and what they have done for this country, the veterans and there widows get a small pension that is only slightly better than the old age pension, The thing that really gets up my goat is that what about the veterans who did not see active service they do all the training and injury still happens to them and when they leave the defence department they are on there own i know of a few of these veterans they are now on a part disability pension and the so called Veterans Affairs will not give you a helping hand unless it is to the letter of so called rules so isay dont forget all Veterans some may not have fought for this country but they gave up the best time of there life to train for the possibility to fight for this country and the Australian Flag.

Caperteewaratah
  • 17th Mar 2011 10:57am

My grandfather was an Anzac who was a lighthorseman and when they needed more at Gallipoli, he went there. He returned and I only remember him vaguely throwing me up on his shoulders as he died when I was about 3. But he made a photo album of his adventure as they thought it was going to be. The innoncence of people then is clearly seen in the photos - it was some sort of "lark" to go overseas to Egypt and have your photo taken with a "bin" - the reality of it all hit when young men were killed like fodder at Gallipoli and other places to appease the idiotic egos of English army officials - what a waste - and now young people are marching - I think Australians are afraid of losing their Aussieness - with multiculturalism taking over - and are wanting to participate in the Anzac day services - and even go to Gallipoli where people now travel in their thousands - men and women go to war to fight for a cause they believe in whether it is justified or not - if everyone said we are not fighting then there would be no wars. I appreciate what the diggers past and present do for us, but still feel sorrow at young men and women being killed and injured and if they return, often emotionally scarred for life - I have respect for them but don't necessarily agree with going to war. I think this was shown in the return of the Vietnam veterans who returned to be lambasted with cries of what did you go there for? After seeing Vietnam myself and what happened with the oppression of the people and then the US getting involved - it was all only ugly for everyone concerned and people are still suffering the effects of agent orange -babies being born disfigured in a way you would not see unless you went there to the war museum. So I think maybe a lot of other people feel this way - they don;t hate the soldiers who defend us, but they hate war.

bibi
  • 17th Mar 2011 09:42am

our generation can never understand what the diggers did for us in the past as we h ave not been exposed to the atrocities of ww1 and ww2. our present defence are doing a sterling job and while most of us are horrified by loss of life these brave men and women know what they are signing up for and we should support them.

Sal
  • 17th Mar 2011 08:04am

It seems only around Anzac day do the younger generation remember what our Diggers did for us in WW1 & WW2 and currently in conflicts around the world.. In General some are disrespectful to them in Public. Respect should be shown to them wherever they are (male & female) as they fought/fight to keep us free.

simmo
  • 17th Mar 2011 06:09am

Hi Errol, where do I start ? Local people mostly respect diggers, but the local council etc ..well....... I am a volunteer at my local RSL Sub-branch and the police have now removed our ANZAC Day march from the highway and want us to use the back streets of town....police say they are much too stretched to assist at the march anymore and we have to go through enormous amounts of paperwork just to get permission to close a road for half an hour, so much so we had to hire a person who is authorised by the RTA to organise evrything for us. The local council does not look after the memorials in our area, we have just completed a five year fight to gain grants and labour from council to restore one of them and have been pleading for almost three years to get another repaired. Two others are rapidly falling to bits and council keep asking us if we can fix them ! We don't have the money we only have 33 ex-service members. most of whom are pensioners. My husband is a vietnam vet and for years they have been ostracised and sneered at by governement (who sent him there) and only recently have gained the respect they deserve from the general public. I could go on but I;m becoming boring..Thanks

Gazza
  • 17th Mar 2011 05:10am

We all know the sacrifices that soldiers give for their country,s " The Ultimate Sacrifice", myself a Viet Vet I am humble and respectful of that. But the suffering of civilians in war hardly gets bought up. Since the turn of the last century over a 100 million civilians have lost ther lives war related and more to come . "Lest we forget"

havalaugh
  • 17th Mar 2011 04:23am

Hi Errolsyd,
My Partner & I belong to our local RSL and every time we say the ode at 6pm every night we are there I think of my grandfather who was in the light horseman and the mates he faught beside. My partner never misses any of the early morning calls to remember our fallan comrads. And together all the members actively keep our little club running along. So there are still people around the country showing their respects for our Diggers. Did you fight in a war? And are you a member of an RSL? If so where are you situated in melb? QLD? etc....

jeremiah_cool
  • 17th Mar 2011 02:58am

Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day are important days to all Australians. It is when we celebrate the birth of our nation, our achievements, and reflect on the many thousands who gave their lives fighting for this country. Through their determination and sacrifice we are able to enjoy a unique lifestyle and freedom, and an exclusive standard of living, making us the envy of many other countries around the world.

On Anzac Day, April 25, in just about every town in Australia we gather to pay our respect to our diggers and fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen and women. It's a day that stops the nation as we reflect on who we are and where we have come from and the sacrifices that have enabled us to live the lives we lead today.

No-one should doubt the bravery and commitment of Australia's Diggers.RIP all our past diggers. And Thank you to all who have survived the theatre of war, serving your country.

But there are others in our community that simply don't care about what our service men and women have done for them. So we can all do something about this:

a) We need to continue to support our troops who are serving overseas.
b) Resist all attempts from those who want to change our flag. Many service men and women fought under this flag.
c) Fly the Australian flag at your home.
d) Continue to promote and support Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
e) Protest loudly when minority groups want us to change our culture to suit theirs.
f) Encourage the younger generation to read the military history books and learn about the number of service men and women who have lost their lives on the battlefields so that we can live the way we do.
g) Instill into the younger generation the values and pride in being a “Fair Dinkum Aussie” and the reasons we need to retain our own identity

jeremiah_cool
  • 17th Mar 2011 02:57am

Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day are important days to all Australians. It is when we celebrate the birth of our nation, our achievements, and reflect on the many thousands who gave their lives fighting for this country. Through their determination and sacrifice we are able to enjoy a unique lifestyle and freedom, and an exclusive standard of living, making us the envy of many other countries around the world.

On Anzac Day, April 25, in just about every town in Australia we gather to pay our respect to our diggers and fallen soldiers, sailors and airmen and women. It's a day that stops the nation as we reflect on who we are and where we have come from and the sacrifices that have enabled us to live the lives we lead today.

No-one should doubt the bravery and commitment of Australia's Diggers.RIP all our past diggers. And Thank you to all who have survived the theatre of war, serving your country.

But there are others in our community that simply don't care about what our service men and women have done for them. So we can all do something about this:

a) We need to continue to support our troops who are serving overseas.
b) Resist all attempts from those who want to change our flag. Many service men and women fought under this flag.
c) Fly the Australian flag at your home.
d) Continue to promote and support Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
e) Protest loudly when minority groups want us to change our culture to suit theirs.
f) Encourage the younger generation to read the military history books and learn about the number of service men and women who have lost their lives on the battlefields so that we can live the way we do.
g) Instill into the younger generation the values and pride in being a “Fair Dinkum Aussie” and the reasons we need to retain our own identity

errolsyd
  • 17th Mar 2011 10:01pm
Australia Day, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day are important days to all Australians. It is when we celebrate the birth of our nation, our achievements, and reflect on the many thousands who gave...

You have got it right jeremiah, support our troops our vets, war widows, Fly our flag proudly,hands off our culture,teach our young in schools about our war history. Be a fair Dinkim Aussie take pride in this country of ours despite what some misinformed doo gooders are trying to do to us.

peterv
  • 16th Mar 2011 10:58pm

I think it's gratifying to read so many positive comments about our diggers.Without their sacrifices who knows where wed be now? We must not let the ANZAC legend fade away.

coops
  • 16th Mar 2011 10:53pm

I am 55 and children of today, most children of today do not not know what the 11/11 mean. when i was a lad we all stopped doing school work or what we were doing at 11am for a minuite slience, cars would stop and the driver and passangers would get out, lower there heads for a minuite silence, buses, trians and trams would stop. Nowadays it's life as usual,thtas a great shame.
ANZAC Day seems to be going the same way, iI hear a young lad say ANZAC Day was for Collingwood to play Essodon! What has happened to thje Aussie spirt.
At present i am working mYass off to go to Gilipoi in 2015 to pay my respects to the diggers who went there as volunteers and fought in a war, For those who came back, and now have left us, and those who never came back Less we forget. Never child shoul visit the war memorial in canbera, at least once.

coops
  • 16th Mar 2011 10:52pm

I am 55 and children of today, most children of today do not not know what the 11/11 mean. when i was a lad we all stopped doing school work or what we were doing at 11am for a minuite slience, cars would stop and the driver and passangers would get out, lower there heads for a minuite silence, buses, trians and trams would stop. Nowadays it's life as usual,thtas a great shame.
ANZAC Day seems to be going the same way, iI hear a young lad say ANZAC Day was for Collingwood to play Essodon! What has happened to thje Aussie spirt.
At present i am working mYass off to go to Gilipoi in 2015 to pay my respects to the diggers who went there as volunteers and fought in a war, For those who came back, and now have left us, and those who never came back Less we forget. Never child shoul visit the war memorial in canbera, at least once.

mrswong
  • 16th Mar 2011 09:42pm

I go to an RSL club with my sister when I am visiting her and find it very annoying when people do not respect the 6.30PM saying of the Ode that should have its meaning taught in all schools so that it will live on for time immemorial as a mark of respect for all the soldiers that fought in all the wars to keep us safe and free Lest We Forget. As Anzac Day approaches once again this year let us be ever mindful of the sacrifice made by all our diggers.

anna
  • 16th Mar 2011 10:20pm
I go to an RSL club with my sister when I am visiting her and find it very annoying when people do not respect the 6.30PM saying of the Ode that should have its meaning taught in all schools so...

My father, World War 11 vet. recites the Ode fully at Anzac Annual Dinners . It makes me so proud! I can recite the main verse but not the seven, I think there are. It would be great if all of us learnt the ode, not just children. Also it is gratifying to see so many children & Schools so involved, having Services & wanting to march. When I watch the DIGGERS on Anzac Day, as ill as they may feel, the shoulders & back are straight as they march. Proud Australians!

Michael
  • 16th Mar 2011 08:59pm

yes, people could do more to consider what was done before us and I was only thinking of that today in reference to my paternal granddad who died in 1947 before I as born. he suffered in France and lost a leg & deafness but he came back and did a job as a paymaster at one of Melbourne's former technical colleges now the RMIT University. My late dad's brother served in Palestine & New Guinea later and went out to Palestine on the Queen Mary that swamped Sydney because it was so big. he helped found his local RSL(now in financial difficulties). I belong to a club but we just can't get members into the place and much has gone to the dogs.

uruz
  • 16th Mar 2011 08:42pm

Errol, as a Vietnam Veteran and also someone who lost his father on HMAS Sydney in WW2, I'd like to say thank you, it makes me feel very humble to know there are those like yourself who respect us for what we did and do.

rattimoth
  • 16th Mar 2011 08:27pm

Errol, I can't speak for people who live in cities, but I can promise you that out her in the bush, respect for all our diggers is very very present..

I am a retired gulf war one vet, my daughter and son are serving, so are two son in laws, my father is a vietnam vet, his father survived changi and my great uncle had a submarine named after him - we all get nothing but respect from our local community.

Our cenotaph in town is well tended , has never been vandalised, anzac day,national service day and long tan day are all commemorated and well attended with the entire shopping centre stopping while the last post is played. at each occasion. The war cemetery is lovingly looked after by volunteers as well as the local council.

Our schools frequently call on us to come and talk to children about the truth of service and warand its a duty we are proud to fulfil. NONE of my family have ever been heckled or denigraded for choosing to serve, I have never had anyone say bad things about my service, even though I left my husband to raise our children while I served my country, the whole town pitched in and helped him, and my coming home party had over 500 people at it.

On the few occasions I have had to deal with the beaurocracy, I have been treated very well, listened to politely and had my issues deal with in a very timely fashion as far up the food chain as it was required to go.

I realise how fortunate we are, I have an uncle in law who is also a vietnam vet, and he has had loads of dramas, but to be honest, PTSD aside, he does tend to bring some of it on himself.

In closing.. on behalf of my family, we are thankful for those thankful for the things we've done.

anna
  • 16th Mar 2011 10:33pm
Errol, I can't speak for people who live in cities, but I can promise you that out her in the bush, respect for all our diggers is very very present..

I am a retired gulf war one vet, my...

What a wonderful story of you & your family! I feel proud to have read this, thank you!

kathy77
  • 16th Mar 2011 08:07pm

Oh yes I always show my respect for the men and woman that fought for our country it would not be the country it is today if they never fought both my parents fought for our country.

devylkitten
  • 26th Feb 2011 02:08pm

Not only the diggers but the war widows could do with a bit more respect. Sometimes I hear negative comments towards the elderly who are struggling financially and I feel as though people have forgotten they lived through war and depression!

errolsyd
  • 26th Feb 2011 02:58pm
Not only the diggers but the war widows could do with a bit more respect. Sometimes I hear negative comments towards the elderly who are struggling financially and I feel as though people have...

Well said devykitten you are so right.

CAT17
  • 23rd Feb 2011 11:08am

We can never repay those who gave their lives for us, but honouring them on Anzac Day and the new Hall of Honour at the War Memorial are just two ways we can show our respect and remember them. I think young people particularly are keeping the memories and respect alive by joining the Parade on Anzac Day and going to Gallipoli.

Help Caféstudy members by responding to their questions, or ask your own in Café Chat, and you will get the chance of earning extra rewards. Caféstudy will match these and donate equally to our two chosen Australian charities.

AMCS
Australian Marine Conservation Society are an independent charity, staffed by a committed group of scientists, educators and passionate advocates who have defended Australia’s oceans for over 50 years.
Reach Out
ReachOut is the most accessed online mental health service for young people and their parents in Australia. Their trusted self-help information, peer-support program and referral tools save lives by helping young people be well and stay well. The information they offer parents makes it easier for them to help their teenagers, too.