Bravery is a word that gets thrown around haphazardly in the modern world – often used to describe the extraordinary feats of sports people and the like.
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But the modern understanding of the word pales in comparison to the bravery that many young people showed when they volunteered to go to a foreign field and fight their country a century ago.
They came from cities and towns across Australia – many of them still teenagers looking for honour, an adventure or to do their communities and families proud. Many never returned.
You don’t have to look far to find a story that shows the human tragedy of the devastating global conflict that’s etched into our national identity.
Monday marked the second Anzac Day of the four year centenary commemorations.
Anzac Day is a time to recognise everyone who has served in conflict – whether they fought and died or survived and returned home.
On the eve of Anzac Day, Kurri Kurri residents received a welcome surprise when Raymond Terrace police contacted them to say they had recovered the treasured war medals of Doug Watterson’s late father.
Carl Faragher Watterson served in World War I and World War II before he retired to the Clarence River, where he died in 1982, at the age of 87. His family was devastated when victory and service medals from each war, as well as an insignia and whistle from his time as a warrant officer, were stolen from his son Doug’s home in 2013.
The act of stealing the medals of a war veteran from family is obviously disgraceful.
But the return of Carl Faragher Watterson’s belongings to his family after three years, on the eve of Anzac Day, is welcome news.
“We went straight out there and got them,” Mr Watterson said. “I am so pleased to get them back.”
Hundreds turned out to Anzac Day services across the Cessnock area on Monday to pay their respects to the brave men and women who risked everything to fight for the values and freedoms enjoyed across the Hunter and the rest of Australia over the past century.
As the Anzac Centenary continues over the next few years, it’s up to communities like ours to continue to take the time each year to pay our respects to the courageous service people who have done more than enough to deserve it.
