How and Why Australians have commemorated the ANZAC experience

The experience of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) is an historical event yet it had, and continues to have, such a profound influence on Australia that we still commemorate it. We do this through memorials, services, ceremonies and in a number of informal ways, including by just pausing, wherever we are and whatever we are doing, and recognising the sacrifices that were made for us.
We commemorate it not because it was a great victory. It wasn’t. But it embodies what we value – mateship, courage, perseverance, decency, humour in adversity and selflessness. These concepts still influence how we see ourselves. It was a battle in the First World War that changed Australia.
The ANZAC experience originated at Gallipoli where, on 25 April 1915, the 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade of the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) landed at dawn.
England had decided to conquer the Turks on the Gallipoli Peninsula to free the Dardanelles for the Allies and to relieve pressure ...