Honouring the past: Fred Dawson's mission to keep the Anzac Day message alive

Honouring the past: Fred Dawson's mission to keep the Anzac Day message alive

Nowra local Fred Dawson shares the importance of Anzac Day in helping us remember the sacrifices and stories of our local heroes.

Focus on family as memories still live on

IPSWICH local Glenn West always knew he wanted to serve his country – but he never imagined just how deep his family’s military roots ran. A proud veteran, Mr West spent 10 years in the Royal Australian Navy, serving aboard warships and small boats.His commitment to duty was unwavering, but it wasn’t until years after his service that he uncovered the extraordinary legacy etched into his own family history. “I never knew the full story while I w…

SP PNG Hunters to Wear Special Jersey Honouring ANZAC Legacy

The SP PNG Hunters will don a specially designed commemorative jersey when they face the Burleigh Bears this Saturday, 26 April, at Santos National Football Stadium, marking their first-ever ANZAC Round match hosted on home soil since joining the Queensland Cup. The jersey will feature the iconic image of Private George C. “Dick” Whittington being assisted by Papua New Guinean Raphael Oimbari during World War II, symbolising the shared history a…

In memory of Arthur Leggett

Arthur passed away in early April 2025 – he didn’t make another ANZAC Day but his legacy will live on. He was such a great guy and we were thrilled to have interviewed him in March 2021. We have republished this story to inspire everyone on ANZAC Day and beyond. Thank you for your service Arthur! “There’s not many my age around,” laughs 103-year-old war veteran Arthur Leggett when I pick up the phone to chat to him about his remarkable life. Few…

Honouring veterans young and old

An Anglesea veteran reflects on his time in the Navy as the country prepares to remember the brave servicemen and women this Anzac Day. Bill Shaw joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1972 when he was 17 and served aboard the HMAS (His/Her Majesty’s Australian Ship) Anzac, Swan, Brisbane, Hobart, Stalwart, Cerberus, Canberra, Harman and Lonsdale. Mr Shaw left the Navy in 1982 and said that his decade of service gave him purpose by knowing he had h…

What might have been

I was approached recently by a TV program with a view to talking about Anzac Day. I felt that I ought to outline what sort of views the program might expect about Anzackery, Frontier Wars and the Australian War Memorial. Those views were indications  I would pursue for the show. But sadly, the next day … Continue reading What might have been →