IT’S been said there’s not enough days in the year to help all the charities, foundations and causes that now claim dates and weeks to raise awareness and much-needed funds.
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We’ve become a bit jaded, a bit fatigued, a bit cynical even, about all these organisations trying to gain our attention and plead for funds.
If that’s the case – at least for some of us – then stories like the one in today’s Leader about the Farrer Year 12s are a much-needed reminder of why these causes deserve our attention.
The boys have been shaving their heads to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation since 2000, when one of their teachers and his family were confronted with the disease.
It’s become something of a tradition now and they’ve raised tens of thousands over the years to help support the foundation and its search for a cure.
They raised more than $16,000 this year, proving they are just as passionate about the cause as they ever were, and the hundreds of people who dug deep to support their efforts believe in it, too.
All of these causes, organisations, charities, services and foundations deserve our attention. We obviously can’t support all of them financially, but we can listen – and maybe even put our hand up to help in another way.
At the very least we can try and understand just why they are so important.
They represent thousands of Australians who have had their lives turned upside down by circumstances out of their control.
Australians who have suffered, and are suffering, usually through no fault of their own.
You never know what’s around the corner and it would be nice to think you’d done your bit to help those committed to helping others.
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ONE hundred years ago today our troops landed at Gallipoli, the beginning of 10 months of fighting that would leave an indelible mark on Australia, and indeed, the world.
Today we will turn out in our millions at services, marches and commemorations around the nation to remember the sacrifice of those Diggers, as well as those who came before and have come since.
It’s been said in recent weeks we are suffering an “Anzac fatigue”, having had months of news stories, television series and movies in the lead-up to this historic day.
But, there’s also a belief that today’s enormous crowds will put paid to that assertion; that Australians never tire of honouring their veterans, both from recent conflicts and those from generations ago – conflicts that have changed history and shaped the way we have grown as a nation.
May we never tire of remembering those men and women who fought for ideals we still hold dear, as well as those who were left behind to continue driving Australia onwards and upwards.
We say thank you to every single one.
Lest We Forget.
