Fed: Anzac spirit flamed at Gallipoli now burns in East Timor

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2001
Fed: Anzac spirit flamed at Gallipoli now burns in East Timor

CANBERRA, April 25 AAP - The torch of the Anzac spirit kindled at Gallipoli in World
War I now shines in the dry hills of East Timor, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said
today.

In a speech delivered at the Lone Pine Anzac Day service in Gallipoli, Mr Downer said
it was hard for anyone, especially those who had never experienced the tragedy of war,
to imagine the horror endured at Lone Pine 86 years ago.

"Here was kindled the torch of the Anzac spirit," Mr Downer said.

"It has been proudly passed to Australia's sons and daughters, to those who have struggled
and died on fields far from home.

"Its light was renewed at El Alamein (in Egypt in WWII) and on the Kokoda Track (Papua,
WWII) at Kapyong (Korean War) and Long Tan (Vietnam War).

"Now it shines in the dry hills of East Timor - not too different from those around
us - where Australian and New Zealand troops are the new custodians of the Anzac tradition."

Mr Downer pointed out that Australians and New Zealanders now work side-by-side with
Turkish troops in East Timor.

The true legacy of the original Anzacs was their forging of a new definition of Australian
identity and nationhood, he said.

"Its power is felt in the hearts of all Australians from the oldest to the youngest," he said.

AAP kjp/mg/sb

KEYWORD: ANZAC DOWNER

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