Sharing the History of Anzac Day

On Tuesday, as they do every fortnight, the children from Little Marchants Child Care Centre skipped through the doors of the nearby Cooper House Aged Care Community, ready for a morning of play and laughter. 

They were greeted with smiles and fondness and it doesn’t take long to see how special the interactions are to residents. This week’s visit was particularly significant, celebrating ANZAC day and all that it stands for.

Residents happily accepted ANZAC biscuits and did their best to explain the significance of the day to the adoring eyes of the children sitting cross legged next to them.

Many had experienced war first hand, watching their husbands, brothers, fathers and loved ones leave the family home with no promises of returning.

Our aged care communities are full of wonderful people, deep history and inspiring stories. Among those is 94 year old Doug Cochrane, a resident at Cooper House and a member of the 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion. After joining the Army with his brother Wallace in 1940, the pair set sail to the Middle East, eventually fighting in Egypt and Syria.

Doug returned home in 1946 without his brother.

Doug said I can vividly remember being in El Alamein, sitting in the sand and writing a Will.

“I was 20 years old. Two weeks later, my brother was killed. I was standing on a ridge and I saw the battle happen on the next ridge over”.

“You wouldn’t realise the impact of war on the country”.

“Given the current events, you would think today that it’s even more important than ever to remember and reflect on ANZAC day”.

The children playing nearby are yet to grasp the concept of war and loss.

But through teaching them the history of Australia’s past and connecting them with older Australians, we can only hope the stories and history will be passed on. 

Find out more about Wesley Mission Queensland.