Hi o sung wu

I feel compelled to comment on the recent kerfuffle concerning Woolworths crass attempt to cash in on the original ANZAC's and Gallipoli. The "fresh food people" tried to associate themselves with this historic event by using the slogan "Fresh in our minds" and wanting, presumably customers and therefore increase sales and therefore profits, to post photos on their web site.
The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Senator Michael Ronaldson, was right to call Woolworths on this as being in bad taste and offensive to the memory of our fallen. No problem with that, but are they the only ones cashing in?
I walk into the Post Office, a wholly owned government business, and there is the Post Office trying also to cash in on the events of 1915, with a made in China Teddy Bear dressed in ANZAC uniform retailing for $89.99, along with an assortment of made in China ANZAC collectibles on sale. Minister give "them" a call!

On the anniversary of the "Victory in the Pacific", will we see the Mitsubishi Company release a limited edition collectible automobile? Toyota not wanting to be outdone on the sales front could do likewise.

G'day there PAUL1405...

On this issue I couldn't agree with you more ! Personally, and I do say personally, the whole concept of ANZAC day seems to have been high-jacked by those who have nothing to do with the day at all. Apparently according to many on radio, the shock jocks and their merry crew, we're supposed to savour or delight in the centenary of ANZAC ? I thought we were all to observe or memorialize the occasion, rather than 'enjoy' the day ? Mate, on this issue I really do get a head of steam ! Still I'm getting older and crankier, therefore perhaps my judgement is becoming more clouded and less finite ? But I agree totally with what you've said Paul, and good on you for speaking up about it ! Someone at least, understands the true meaning of ANZAC DAY.

Paul,

I'm right with you on this along with o sung wu.

I've decided not to attend this years march, ceremonies, or the RSL's free lunch as my own small and ineffectual protest at the crass commercialism of ANZAC Day.

Some of the lauded mini-series that have already come out have been ludicrous in some portrayals, in one of them a 'digger' leaping ashore at ANZAC Cove is armed with a WWII rifle, which is bad enough, but it's a Japanese service rifle!!
Apparently the only consultation that went on was with the finance department.

Hi, o sung wu and Is Mise

I'm no expert myself but the made in China Post Office Teddy Bear, which incidentally is outrageously priced at 90 bucks, as is the rest of their so called "memorabilia" is wearing a 'slouch hat' my understanding is the original ANZAC's wore Pommy metal helmets. if I'm right I suppose we can't actually blame the Chinese for getting it wrong, they were not actually there.
I'm not opposed to doco's about ANZAC, I don't know about the TV programs coming out next week and what they will be like. I'm sure there will be quite a bit of poetic licence taken. There is one about Charles Bean (the official WWI correspondent) which hopefully will be well done. I must say I did, and my partner "T" also very much enjoyed Russell Crowe's 'Water Diviner' movie which we went to see on Boxing Day, not a war movie as such, although its about the events of war, but it did bring the Turkish participation and their side of things into the story. My partner is very anti-war but she said she enjoyed that movie with its story. On a lighter note I have set for recording 'Chips' Rafferty's 40,000 Horsemen made in 1940, on Fox Classics next week, along with a few other old B&W classics. On the score of that 40,000, according to my old man they made it with about 4 horsemen in the Cronulla sandhills, they just rode them around and around to make up the numbers, low budget, 'Chips' probably wanted a 100 quid to make the movie. LOL.

Paul1405, "as is the rest of their so called "memorabilia" is wearing a 'slouch hat' my understanding is the original ANZAC's wore Pommy metal helmets"

Wrong. You are confusing battle dress with the uniform.

"The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) headwear 1914-1918
Thursday 17 July 2014 by Dianne Rutherford. 7 comments
Collection, Military Heraldry and Technology, First World War uniforms

..The most distinctive and recognisable article of clothing worn by the Australian soldier was the khaki felt slouch hat. This item of headwear had been worn in Australia for some years before the turn of the century and was also popular elsewhere in the world...

The slouch hat was first adopted in Australia by Colonel Tom Price in 1885 as the head dress for the Victorian Mounted Rifles, which he commanded. Originally it was worn looped up on the right hand side. The hat was widely worn by Australian troops during the Boer War, and in 1903, after Federation, it was universally adopted for the Australian Commonwealth Army."

https://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2014/07/17/australian-imperial-force-aif-headwear-1914-1918/

If you had ever been one of the school cadets you so despise and have ignorantly sledged previously on this forum (linking them to 'Brown Shirts' as I recall) you may have known that already.

I see no reason not to honour the lost and injured and their families and friends who never saw them return, or got them back forever crippled. Chinese made memorabilia or whatever is irrelevant as is any disagreement in hindsight with Australia's and NZ's role in the war. The sacrifices were made and we who are alive now remember them.

Although the Greens would like to score political points out of it. Such as the awful NSW Greens Shoebridge who along with the equally dreadful CFMEU (mates of the Greens) have tried to hijack ANZAC Day for their own secondary gain. Shameful.

It is the commemoration that matters. That is what ANZAC Day is about.

G'day there ONTHEBEACH...

Your last sentence was right on target I reckon ! We should all commemorate ANZAC Day such as it's vital importance to all Australians.

I found your explanation concerning the origins of the 'Slouch' Hat very interesting. My maternal Grandfather was in the first War, and my paternal Grandfather was in the Anglo Boer War, serving with the British troops. I seem to remember very vaguely, seeing a small sepia photograph of him wearing a 'Pith' helmet in South Africa ? Unfortunately, he died in the early 1950's so I never had the opportunity to speak with him in detail about the Anglo Boer War ?

Interestingly my other Grandfather lasted much longer, only passing away in March of 1967. Even so, he'd never speak to us about the First World War very much, only that he was declared a TPI in the late 1950's such was the shocking injuries he received in France in 1915 or 1916 ? Extraordinarily, he had his 16th birthday in the trenches ! My only comment, at 16 I was still an immature, stupid young boy ! What a world of difference eh ?

You know ONTHEBEACH, I'm a veteran myself. Yet for reasons I'm unable to explain, I don't feel sufficiently worthy enough to wear my Grandfather's medals (on my right breast) on ANZAC Day ? I wore them once about 15 or 18 years ago, and it felt (to me at least) that I was (a) completely unworthy; and (b) I was an utter imposter ? Yet I followed correct military protocol - wearing my own gongs on the left hand side and my Grandfathers on the right hand side ?

My only uncertainty on this occasion of NOT wearing his medals - considering it's a 100 years since Australia came of age, perhaps I should try to overcome my reluctance or vacillation on wearing them, and 'honour' him, by exhibiting his 3 medals for the Centenary of ANZAC Day ? I'm still undecided ? If I had 'miniatures', perhaps I'd feel less uncomfortable ? Buggered if I know.