We recently promoted a story on the Southern Highland News Facebook page about yet another double demerits penalty period. The story in question focused on what was described by police as the Anzac Day holiday period.
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One reader quickly replied on the Facebook post with "Anzac Day on a Thursday deems it a holiday period? When did Friday become a public holiday?"
And rightly so.
Anzac Day is the designated public holiday, not for celebration, but for remembrance.
It falls on April 25 each year and was initially intended to observe the sacrifice made by those members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who landed at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.
Its focus has expanded to remember the fallen and the efforts of every man and woman who has served this country in war time and peacekeeping activities over the past 104 years.
In doing so we pay tribute to more than 100,000 young men and women who have lost their lives fighting for our freedom.
Their sacrifices have left us with a land of opportunity and it would seem that we have become a nation that takes every opportunity to take a holiday.
In many ways it makes sense to squeeze out a few extra days off work around an already designated day off. However, it is hard not to be concerned that the true reason for the public holiday, in place for such an occasion as Anzac Day, is being exploited.
Anzac Day is a time for remembrance of those who risked their own lives so that we could enjoy the freedom we have today - including the freedom to lock in an extra day off to ensure a extra-long weekend.
In 2019, Anzac Day fell on a Thursday. It was a single dedicated public holiday on one day so that we could stop to remember the fallen.
Friday April 26 is just another work day, by no means a holiday entitlement. Bundling the two days together on the front end of a weekend and calling it the "holiday period" somehow feels like we are losing touch with the true purpose of the Anzac Day public holiday. One can only hope this is not the case.
Good luck to those who have locked in that long weekend "holiday break" - here's hoping it is spent as valuable time with your loved ones. But please never forget why you can enjoy such freedom and keep in your memories the many families that farewelled a loved one for the last time as they headed off to war.
Lest we forget.
