Anzac Day for footy mates
TAJ KENNEDY turned 11 on Anzac Day and his birthday wish was to spend the day with his mates, according to mum Lisa.
“All he wanted was to come down to the skatepark, then play footy on the oval and have lunch at the Garden Hotel,” she told Dubbo Photo News, but pointed out that the boys know Anzac Day is about a lot more than the mateship so evidently on display.
“Taj, my son, was born on Anzac Day, it’s special to him. His dad served in the military along with both of his uncles, we’ve got a lot of military in the family so it’s a strong tradition,” she said.
“I also had a lot of my extended family in the military, all army, and the kids march every year. My two know it’s something they do out of respect for all defence personnel.”
And she has an insider’s perspective far removed from the times the nation puts its veterans in the spotlight, understanding the sacrifices made by our modern day military on a daily basis.
“I previously worked for Defence Housing so relocated platoons around the countryside, and hearing the stories of the sacrifice, like when their partner is on deployment, it’s very, very difficult. It’s a big sacrifice when they’re away, they miss seeing their children grow up, they miss babies being born, they miss so many major milestones in their children’s lives, all for our country.”
Zac Taunton said he enjoyed playing footy for Taj’s birthday, but said all the boys understood April 25 was far more than a day off school.
“It’s the best, I love coming down to the oval to play footy with my mates, I like Anzac Day ‘cos we commemorate the ANZACS who died,” he said.
Cohen Bennett said he could imagine ANZACS and current Aussie servicemen and women playing footy or cricket with their mates no matter where they were serving in the world when Anzac Day comes around.
“Groups of mates, probably, being together like us, it’s great and we’re grateful to the people who gave up their lives for us, very grateful,” he said.