The privilege continues...

[zac]

The only way we can make sure that we always play on Anzac Day is if attendance figures are good. I believe it's not a sell out so, if you're thinking of coming, come!

[Smee]

Lest we forget.

Go Easts!

[The Lip]

My grandfather played Fly-half for Easts Rugby Club before 1908, then for ESDRLFC when it started, which is why my family support the Roosters. I believe he only played a season or two in the lower grades, then moved out west near Cobar, but he played 5/8 for NSW Country against a touring English team in those very early days of league. He fought in France during WWI, where he was gassed by the Germans, but survived. He was never a well man after that though, and passed away in 1949.

To have our team play on this very special day is a wonderful occasion for my family, as we remember our own family connection to both Anzac Day and the Roosters. Enjoy this amazing day. It’s my favourite game of the regular season by far. I know we will.

Go Easts !!!

Enjoy the day Waylander / like the story of your grand father.

[ism22]

My family story:
- Grandpa fought for Mussolini during the early days of WWII and escaped to Australia with his family (where he lived in a tent and helped build regional, demoestic infrastructure for Australia before opening up a few pubs).
- In-laws were Viet Cong.
- Ex-wife's family (relevant because I have 2 mixed kids from that marriage who are Aussies) fought for Japan in WWII (and WWI to be fair - nobody remembers the Japanese being allies though).
- Everybody else in my family avoided conscription...etc by having some kind of disability or by doing jobs/study that exempt them.
- After WWII my dad's family were driven out of Australia by race riots (despite being naturalised Australians)... they were also forced to give up their businesses + property (pubs in a regional centre) that they'd worked hard to establish because returned soldiers demanded all the jobs/respect and hated wogs having fought them (I have seen my late father cop many racist sprays from proud WWII vets who did nothing after returning home).
- TBH ANZAC day means nothing to me and it has essentially become a 2nd Remembrance Day as its elitist 'nah only people from the great war are allowed' roots have died out - I'll take the public holiday but that's about it.
- IMO the whole 'lest we forget' is a bit of a myth, seen purely through the eyes of (then) 'British subjects' (despite federation and all). The ode itself is a verse from an English poem about a completely different military event and IMO we don't get the full story of what happened because it's too complex for most to understand... instead we get BS propaganda about Gallopoli (as if it was a significant event) and well, not a lot more. The day sorta assumes that all the young, white larrikins went to war and they built what we are today by getting mowed down at Gallipoli. I don't accept that version of history as it's certainly not true for my family...