This year’s Anzac Day is a challenging one, given the COVID-19 lockdown, but even that hasn’t stopped a rallying of the troops so that Australians can show their respect to service men and women past and present. And leading that rallying cry is Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie with her virtual Poppy Pledge.
Through the website, thousands have already marked their spot on the map with a virtual poppy, and a pledge to stand in remembrance on Anzac Day, be it in their driveway or on their balcony.
“All we want people to do is go out there, I don’t really care where they stand, just to give a minute’s silence and remember those in the past who have served, and those who are serving now and into the future,” Senator Lambie said.
“You can do it in your pyjamas, you can do it in your dressing gown, you can do it in your suit, take you rum and coffee down with you, just do that minute’s silence.”
A vocal advocate for Veterans, Senator Lambie wants Australians of all ages to show their support this year. She served in the Army herself and knows what it takes to survive as a woman in the Defence Force – and how hard it can be for those women to ask for help when you need it most.
“It’s a man’s world, let’s be honest in that uniform,” Senator Lambie said.
“When you’re a woman and you think you’re bullet-proof, and you’ve been in that uniform, putting your hand up to ask for help, I found it very, very difficult.”
Indigenous Australians, too, have long been forgotten from the history books, even though they have served in every Australian conflict since Federation.
But Senator Lambie said while many of those early war records went missing, the Australian War Memorial in Canberra was making strides in recovering and sharing stories of sacrifice.
“It is the most sacred place, I love going there, and walking into that Unknown Soldier area there, I tell you what it sends shivers up my spine every time, it just takes your breath away” Senator Lambie said.
“And of course it’s on Indigenous ground as well, so I think that makes it even more special. I think just between both the spirit of the Indigenous, the spirit of those people who have fought in wars… it’s extraordinarily very spiritual.”
You can listen to our full chat with Senator Jacqui Lambie here:
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