SPIRIT THE OF ANZAC

PUBLIC enthusiasm for Anzac Day waxed and waned during the 1920s and 1930s. Another war brought much more interest. For some years, crowds l Anzac Day. It wa time to xpre s grief and to show that loved ones not d ain.

e outbre war in 1939 gave a new meaning to nzac Day. The commemorations predictably focused on the current war. Speeches appealed for people to follow the ‘spirit of Anzac’. Links bet een the first Anzacs and wome en serving overseas were stresse . ur ng the ubli , r

t no e e s

e a commemor io ll the wars in which New Z ander en part. Veterans f both w l a w parade o e er. Ma¯ ans ere more i evidence too. he s d to refle the idea f w ea nd as a united c u y. e at the ceremonies d — 6000 people attended the dawn service in A in 1957.

. 1949,

a e (being held on the Monday closest to the actual anniversary). This meant that Anzac Day would always be held on 25 April, no matter the day of the week on which it fell.

The commemoration itself changed. The afternoon citizens’ service was r ll ed to - or

vi a dt the day, ne of commemo .

o

Anzac Day but Returned Services’ Association (RSA) clubrooms were open. In the 1960s people complained about the apparent double standard. Returned servicemen and women could enjoy their traditional Anzac Day drinking, but the public was denied entertainment in hotels or cinemas. In 1965 the RSA recommended liberalising Anzac Day afternoon. From 1967 hotels and, later, shops could op e

The reli us aspe ere oat issue. RSA wanted to emove reli from the cerem altogeth . Catholics wer revented heir own rules fro ending such menical ces, and many Catholic an ish rned rvice personnel had o t zac Day ceremonie .

churches prote t at ay was a ady too , ches a yr

.