It is set to be an Anzac Day like no other.
Australians will celebrate from home today (Saturday 25 April) and become more active in paying their respects to the fallen.
Renowned Hunter historian Ed Tonks believes it will be one for the history books.
“It’s going to be significant to history because it is going to be so different,” he says.
“Instead of being community-based as such where you have great numbers of people from a community focusing on a particular ceremony or march, this one will be emphasising the individuals – it is going to become very memorable in that way.”
Although it cannot be compared to what the Anzacs faced, Mr Tonks says we’re dealing with a new enemy in COVID-19 and believes we need to look after each other during this time.
“It is an enemy, it is certainly a different sort of enemy though – we need to be patient and need to be aware but we are not having bullets or shrapnel being thrown around at us,” he says.
“I think there are a few parallels, but we are not facing a death toll that the great Australians faced in the war, our [government] has moved quickly and we can look after each other during this time.”
Mr Tonks believes the commitment the community has shown to adapt to the circumstances matches the character traits of our Anzacs.
“If we start to consider some of the positive character traits of our Anzacs adapting to difficult environments, they are the virtues we need to apply [today],” he says.
“We need to be adaptable and flexible, and I think Anzac Day may mean a little bit more for people and we will be stronger.”
According to Mr Tonks, it is important to commemorate the day to maintain the tradition.
He believes that, once there is a break in tradition, there’s significant risk of it becoming irrelevant.
Mr Tonks says the closest comparison to what we are facing now would be the days of the influenza pandemic between 1918 and 1920.
“The days of the Second World War would have caused quite a lot of change too,” he says.
“There have been a few other examples where Anzac Day has been held in a different social or political environment.”
