I Sat Here

I sat here, in bed, and watched the services that are happening all over the world, well not quite but nearly, that honoured those men like my grandfather, Robert Archibald Deans, who fought hard and long to make sure that I would be able to live the way I do today.

I have watched our many leaders give speeches reminding us all of whom these men were and that they were brave, strong and courageous. They were regular men, shearers, farmers, clerks, teachers, students, tailors, store attendants and some were just ordinary boys who hadn’t even started out on their life career. I remember the women who were left behind, their courage isn’t mentioned often but it was real. Many of these women were living alone for the first time in their lives. They were taking on the job of being single mums. Many, despite their grief, still got out of bed every morning and fought depression, tears and stress to help raise funds for the war effort and supported each other. They cooked meals for the families with the very few resources that we available due to rationing. They took on jobs that would normally have been done by the men who have left to go overseas.

The Australian men and women of these times dug deep into the strength the only God could supply to help them get through these hard and difficult times. Yes, the Christian experience was very real to most of these men and women back then. They wanted us to be a great nation that respected each and gave all men a fair go. So let us honour them, not just for one day but all year round by doing the same, respecting all our country men and women and giving them a fair go.