ANZAC Day at Seaforth Gardens Aged Care Centre

ANZAC Day, which falls on 25 April annually, has long been a day of recognition to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, since the day was first acknowledged in 1916. As the Army Government website notes, “On 25 April 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. These became known as Anzacs and the pride they took in that name continues to this day.”  In 2023, the day is still significant as it pays homage to those who fought in Gallipoli and, as the Army Government website notes, also extends and “includes the remembrance of all Australians killed in military operations.”  

Seaforth Gardens Aged Care Centre (“Seaforth Gardens”), volunteer Trish pays her respects to the ANZACs through her volunteer work at the Centre. Trish has been a volunteer at the Centre for six years and is currently the volunteer Chaplain onsite, assisting with church meetings, bible studies, Chapel service and even conducting the occasional funeral service. Trish will be running the ANZAC Day Service for the Centre and has a personal connection with this significant day. 

 “I was six months old when my father went to war and five years old when he came home,” tells Trish. “My father was in the field ambulance unit and he also assisted in the operating tents. Due to his own injuries and the injuries he witnessed, my father spent the rest of his life in hospital as much as the time he was at home.” For Trish, she highlights the importance of honouring this day and the servicemen and women who made sacrifices for our country. “We should always remember what has been given to us, for those who laid down their lives for us and the sacrifices that were made.” 

For Seaforth Gardens resident, Elaine, she also has a personal connection to ANZAC Day. “My father was a returned man,” she says, and finds the day especially poignant. “It makes us think, that these men that went to war, that went to fight for our country and many of them lost their lives, left widows, young children and friends.” For her, she honours and pays respect to the many servicemen and women who sacrificed much for our freedom, before acknowledging how she will be memorialising the day.  

“We have a service and we commemorate the words and we remember what was done for us and we thank God for those who did it and we pray for this world,” she says. “It’s not just a day, it’s been done for years and for our benefit and we have reaped much of it.” 

Likewise, for Seaforth Gardens resident Margaret, she has long been involved in ANZAC Day services, telling of her time as a Salvation Army officer, who previously led services. She notes, “As an officer, I’ve lead meetings when there wasn’t a manager to do it.” The significance of this day is echoed in her reflections of ANZAC Day as she reiterates, “It’s a special day of memory for a lot of people and for those who gave their lives for us.”