What do ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day mean to our sense of wellbeing as a nation?
As Australian's pause to honour the members of our armed forces who have died in the line of duty since World War I, David McLachlan encourages us to reflect on the ANZAC spirit and how we can make a difference through volunteering.
Australia’s national sense of well-being has been growing year on year for many years according the Australian Unity Well-being Index. Many factors influence this sense of well-being, but one thing that has been proven time and again is that helping others increases people’s individual well-being.
It is fact that volunteering improves your sense of personal wellbeing. I’m a living example of that, as are many of those that I deal with on a daily basis through my role with the RSL in Victoria. The RSL has been run predominantly by volunteers since its inception over 90 years ago, and our goal has been to help our fellow veterans and their dependants in need, and to take care of those who are unable to care for themselves. And, the people doing this invaluable work are all volunteers. Even the people you see standing out on the streets selling poppies for Remembrance Day are all volunteers.
In addition to the impact of volunteering on wellbeing, I believe that pride in our history contributes to our national good will. ANZAC Day ceremonies around the country have been steadily growing in recent years with dawn services and marches reporting significant growth in attendance. Today, Remembrance Day, is also a significant day on the commemorative calendar with many Australians observing the minute’s silence at 11am on the 11th. These events instil a sense of pride and honour in Australians as we remember those who’ve given so much to help create the nation we live in today.
Our belief is that ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, and what they stand for, are part of the fabric of our modern Australian society.
It is often said that the courage and persistence of the ANZACs is what moulded Australians into the people we are today. Our values are those of the Diggers from times past. Our dedication to comradeship, of mates helping mates, where we believe everyone deserves a chance, and that it’s up to us personally to make the world a better place, sets Australians apart from others. As a society we look after those who are less fortunate and have many welfare organisations in addition to the RSL, dedicated to this alone.
We are the lucky country, but to some extent we’ve made our own luck. I think we are all proud to call ourselves Australian and when we do, we associate that with bravery, honour, courage, mateship and endurance. What is interesting is that all of these traits which give us pride and a sense of wellbeing, are reflected so clearly in our memories on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.
Take a moment to reflect this Remembrance Day.
Major General David McLachlan retired from the Regular Army in March 1994. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 and promoted to Officer in the Order in the Queen's Birthday list in 1993. He is now is the Chairman of Industry Capability Network Ltd, acts as a Corporate Advisor to a number of listed companies, is a Director of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia and a Trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance. Since June 2002 he has been the State President of the Victorian Branch of the Returned and Services League. He was also, proudly, the Honorary Colonel of the 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment.
David McLachlan was born in Harden NSW on 13 March 1937. He graduated from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea in December 1959 and was allotted to the Royal Australian Army Service Corps. The early years of his service saw regimental and staff appointments in Australia. Malaysia during Confrontation with Indonesia, and in South Vietnam. He underwent training in the UK, attending the University of Reading and followed with a series of attachments to British and United States Army units in Germany. On return to Australia in 1972 he was promoted to Major and appointed Officer Commanding of a logistic unit in NSW. In 1973 he attended the Army Command and Staff College at Fort Queenscliff and was then posted to Headquarters Logistic Command as a staff officer until the end of 1977. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in December 1976. In January 1986, David McLachlan was promoted to Brigadier and assumed the appointment of Chief of Staff, Headquarters Logistic Command. In July 1989 he moved to Sydney as Commander 2nd Military District where he stayed until the end of 1990. Returning to Melbourne in January 1991 he was promoted to Major General and assumed the appointment of General Officer Commanding Logistic Command. Logistic Command was a national Command with 10,000 military and civilian personnel, an annual budget, excluding salaries in excess of $600m and assets valued at over $2.5billion located in 67 different locations throughout Australia. David McLachlan retired from the Regular Army in March 1994. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 and promoted to Officer in the Order in the Queen’s Birthday list in 1993. He is now is the Chairman of Industry Capability Network Ltd, acts as a Corporate Advisor to a number of listed companies, is a Director of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia and a Trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance. Since June 2002 he has been the State President of the Victorian Branch of the Returned and Services League. He was also, proudly, the Honorary Colonel of the 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment. David is married to Louise; they have three children and presently live in Beaumaris.
