This year Australian’s will mark ANZAC Day like no other time in history. Dawn services and public events have been cancelled across the country as Australian’s stay home during the Coronavirus pandemic. This is certainly unprecedented however in times of uncertainty and when times are tough, Australian’s will find a way to come together to show support and demonstrate the ANZAC Spirit.

And just as the ANZAC Spirit encompasses the distinctive qualities of mateship, humour, ingenuity, courage and endurance, the Australian community will come together in new ways to honour those who have served and sacrificed for this nation.

Here at Be we have found a couple of ways to honour and share in ANZAC Day 2020…

Driveway Vigil

A national campaign is underway encouraging Australians to stand at the end of the driveway, balcony or porch, or in the living room to remember all those who have served and sacrificed for this nation.

We may not be able to stand in person together, however we can together, safely in our own homes, light up the dawn to commemorate the ANZAC spirit. This national movement will take place at 6am on the Saturday morning across homes in Australia.

The service will be live streamed on ABC television. The find our more visit RSL Queensland here.

Long standing tradition- ANZAC Biscuits

Sharing stories through cooking is often a wonderful way to commemorate ANZAC Day. Cooking ANZAC Biscuits is popular with many Australian families however this much loved and long-standing tradition is nothing like the hardtack biscuits our soldiers received back in the day.

Be Volunteer, Julie-ann Harris, has shared her well loved and traditional ANZAC Biscuit recipe. Julie shares “I received this recipe back in high school in 1973 and I have loved and been using it ever since then.”

20 min prep + 12 cooktime
Ingredients:
1 cup of plain flour
1 cup of rolled oats
¾ cup coconut
¾ cup sugar
150 grams butter
15ml golden syrup
60ml boiling water
1tsp baking soda

Method:
1. Sift flour into bowl
2. add rolled oats, coconut and sugar.
3. melt butter in saucepan and add syrup and water
4. add soda, allow to foam and pour immediately into dry ingredients.
5. mix well then take small pieces of mixture and press out thinly on greased trays, allowing space between each for spreading.
6. bake in a slow oven as they burn easily, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
Enjoy!

A story from retired Be Chairman of the Board, Bruce Warrell

Sixty years ago, at the age of 20, Bruce journeyed from Australia to Papua New Guinea to hike over to the Kokoda Track from Kokoda to Owers’ Corner, a 96-kilometre trek over rugged jungle. Bruce completed this journey with Australian Scouts coming together from across the country to honour the ANZAC’s. Whilst much time has passed, the experience of this journey long remains with Bruce.

As a young man on a trek through the Kokoda Track, Bruce discovered the plight the ANZAC’s experienced with food, gear and mateship. “It was a long six nights on the track but nothing like the ANZAC’S. I’m still very close and often speak with the men I met during the trek,” said Bruce Warrell.

Bruce and his wife Hett have been honouring ANZAC Day annually at Kawana Companions for over 10 years. Each year the couple share ANZAC history, Hett reads a poem and then Bruce will recite the Ode. Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus situation, this year’s ANZAC Day commemoration service at Kawana Companions has been cancelled. However, keep an eye out on the Be Facebook page for a video from Hett and Bruce as they honour ANZAC Day from home.