Thank you for your service

Thank you for your service From the students at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Forestville, Sydney

A message from the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester,

“Thank you for your service.”

As Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, I am privileged to personally meet and acknowledge some of Australia’s veterans and their families. It is my honour to be able to say a simple but heartfelt, ‘Thank you for your service’.

On 15 August, Australia marked the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, a time to pay our respects and recognise the some 12,000 living veterans of that war.

Across the nation, from a National Commemorative Service at the Australian War Memorial to community commemorations at local memorials, we paused to reflect on a conflict that came to Australia’s shores and led to a loss of more than 39,000 Australian lives.

It is moving to see the initiatives developed by the community to recognise our veterans and I applaud the work of Year 4 students at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary School in Forestville in Sydney for preparing the cards and messages in this book.

These are touching efforts that I am sure the veterans appreciated during these tough times of isolation and concern about the coronavirus.

Thank you and lest we forget.

The Hon Darren Chester MP Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel

from from Mia Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for saving Australia and for helping us live a happy life. We are so very happy you saved our city. Thank you for sacrificing your time, your health and your family time.

Happy anniversary for 16.08.2020. We all wish we could have a parade but with these tough times it was sadly cancelled.

We pray for you every day.

from a student from at OLGC Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for fighting for our country in World War Two. It must be hard saying goodbye to your family and marching into battle and seeing your friends die. That was very brave and bold of you.

Now you restored peace to the world we are very grateful, we will always remember you fighting for our country or healing wounded soldiers on the battlefield. You will be remembered through out history.

We celebrate and commemorate you nurses and soldiers by doing this every year on a day called Anzac Day where we resemble this by wearing poppies which represent victory after a very long time.

We will always thank you for this.

from Lily Dear soldier or nurse I thank you that you fought for us to make this a safe country because now there is no wars. We now live in a peaceful place.

You have made changes to my life by no wars, a peaceful place. No wars are great because no fighting and everyone is happy. A peaceful place is good because there is no wars so there is no damage.

I pray for you because you sacrificed your family time. You had great membership so thank you.

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from Rose Dear soldier or nurse I’m Rose and I’m so grateful that you protected our country from all the people that attacked our country. I really hope your grandchildren and great grandchildren follow in your footsteps in protecting and healing people for our country. I’m keeping you in my prayers and my mind so I’ll never forget you because you mean so much to my life and my family.

I love you because you gave up your life for us. You’re so selfless.

Thank you for everything you did for our country and everything you gave up for our country.

from Caitlin Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for sacrificing yourself so that our country didn’t get destroyed. We all appreciate what you did for all of us.

I feel sorry for all of the brave soldiers that died during World War II. I bet you would have felt soooo happy when they declared the war was over.

You would have earned and deserved lots of medals. You did a great job protecting the country and contributing.

Thank you for being so selfless. I pray all those who died. All the work you did has finally paid off. If you didn’t do this our country wouldn’t have freedom. You will always be honoured and remembered for what you have done.

from Ryan Dear soldier or nurse Hi my name is Ryan and I just want to say thank you for saving our country by saving people, caring for people, or you might have sacrificed a body part to save someone. Over all you are a hero. The reason you have saved our country is because you decided to leave your family, and then go to war, see your mates die in front of you. You tried to save them but they die but that gives you the motivation to win the war.

People may have sacrificed their lives to save you, soldier or nurse, because they know you’re special.

Lots of salutes.

from Lilah Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for protecting our country and sacrificing your health for our country so us 2020 kids can not have to live in poverty. I’m so thankful and grateful for you gentlemen and women.

from Heidi Dear soldier or nurse No matter how you served in war you still are remembered for all you did. For all of these years that have passed we would not have built this land without you. For months and months you were out there fighting for this land.

You made changes in my life because you taught us never to lose hope and when times get rough, never give up!

You fought for this land and left your families and friends for this and for us. For that we say thank you. I am so very thankful for what you have done! Thank you.

from from Lucas Dear soldier or nurse I pray that you will live forever and be remembered for all of eternity.

I thank you for serving and protecting our country. I also thank you for protecting the animals and humans on this land.

from from Isla Dear nurse or soldier Thank you for taking care of our country and going into war to protect us. I pray that you don’t face many other challenges and that you have a lovely day today.

You will always be honoured by all of us Australians.

from Jay Dear soldier or nurse Thank you soldier and nurse for sacrificing your life to save our country and everyone.

I pray for all the soldiers and nurses that died in the war.

You have made changes to my life by protecting my family and everything that I love.

You will always be honoured as the Isle of Armour because you all protected millions of people.

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from a student at OLGC Dear nurses and soldiers Thank you for all that you have done for Australia. We pray for you that if your friend died that they are looking down on you.

I hope that all your family survived and all nurses were safe and protected.

If you didn’t fight I would not be alive today or my family.

You will always be remembered. Thank you for putting your life on the line for us. Thank you for protecting our country.

Thank you for serving

from Senna Dear soldier or nurse I am very thankful for what you did if you healed soldiers or you fought as a soldier.

I bet it was a big shock to lose your time, family and mates that died in the war. My dad’s grand grand Grandpa was in World War I. I’ve heard stories from my dad and we’ve got a gold watch from him. He was a Brazilian soldier.

I also think you have changed my life by fighting. And most importantly you didn’t just do that for you, you did it for the country so I am very thankful for what you did.

from Olie Dear soldier or nurse I thank you for sacrificing yourself to save us and you are the heroes of the world and thank you for what you’ve done.

Thank you for protecting us.

from Molly Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for everything that you have done for our community and Australia! I pray that you are safe in your nursing home/home with some good food to eat.

Thank you for your bravery in WWII. You have made changes to my life by thriving to survive, being brave and especially being strong.

from a student at OLGC I would like to thank you for serving in World War II and for making the land how it is today. I’m so sad you left your family to make the land how it is today. You have changed my life by going in World War II and winning the war.

You will be remembered forever. If you didn’t serve in World War II the land would not be what it is today.

Thank you so much.

from from Julian Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for what you have done for us. Thank you for risking your life for us. Thank you for giving us peace in Australia. I hope you are still having a good time during COVID-19. I pray you and your family are ok.

Thank you for making peace.

from from Angela Dear soldiers and nurses Thank you for what you have done and thank you for your sacrifices and helpfulness and love. You mean a lot to us. From the bottom of my heart you are super helpful to us. You are important too.

We are all blessed for the work you have done to heal and to help. I am very honoured to have you help. You mean a gold star to us.

You have given life and peace and bravery and love so thank you.

Thank you

from a student at OLGC Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for your love for Australia and making it as safe as it is today.

Thank you for making Australia right. You stood up for your team and country.

Thank you for showing your effort and love on your tough journey and showing trustworthiness to everyone.

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from Maddie Dear soldiers who fought in the World War II My name is Maddie. I want to thank you for all the wars you went through, and for fighting for us. Thank you for being so selfless all the time. Thank you for spending some of your lifetime to protect me and my friends. I am thankful for you sacrificing your life for me.

I pray that God prays for you at all times. I pray that you know that you are amazing and that you never change from being you. You don’t need to change a thing, the world can change its heart. I pray that you are always safe.

from a student at OLGC Dear soldier or nurse I pray for you - you gave all you time up for us. I thank you for sacrificing your lives for us and sacrificing your time so that Australia was a good country again in the world.

Thank you

from Jake Dear soldiers or nurses Thank you for all your service in this country and the sacrifices you have made to make Australia a more peaceful country. If it wasn’t for soldiers and nurses like you we wouldn’t have the beautiful country we have today. You are loved, you are appreciated, you are a hero. I think everyone in Australia would agree with that.

You are important.

from Callan Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for your effort, time and will to get this country where it is today. You’ve sacrificed so much for the country. If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have food to eat and water to drink.

I hope you are okay during the pandemic and you can contact your family. I thank you for fighting to make this country peaceful.

You will always be in our hearts. You are respected and honoured and you always will be.

from Eddy Dear soldiers and nurses Thank you for making our country and sacrificing your life for us to live a happy life. We all truly appreciate your hard work and what you did.

You will never be forgotten.

I know how hard it would have been to leave your family behind. My Pa went to war in the airforce and I have been told how tough and strong you all were.

You are all heroes and will always hold a special place in my heart and this world. Thank you so much for your contributions.

from from Archie Dear soldier or medics, I am really grateful that you made that sacrifice of going to World War II fighting or being a medic for the people of Australia. Thank you for risking your life on the battle field. I hope you got lots of medals and all the things you have (seen) doesn’t change your mindset. I pray you don’t need to go on the battle field ever again.

Thank you for protecting us from the people invading our land for no apparent reason. Thank you and all the soldiers and (medics).

from from Mason Dear nurse I pray you are having a great time, and are still working and helping people. I hope your family is okay and no one gets sick and that they stay safe. Thank you for helping this world.

Dear soldier I pray that you are okay and that if you are hurt that you get better.

Thank you for all the things you have done for this world to keep it safe.

I also hope your family is okay too. You have changed my life by making me remember you all, and (remembering) that you have saved this world by protecting it, and that you are amazing. I will always remember you and will always honour you.

from Isla Dear soldiers/nurses Thank you for sacrificing your life to save others and to make the world a better place to live in.

Thank you for being brave enough to fight in the war and help others.

Thank you for helping the world to be peaceful again. I pray for everyone who fought in war. I pray for the nurses that helped heal the soldiers and other nurses. You have made changes in my life by fighting/healing people to make the world better. You will always be remembered.

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from Jonas Dear soldier or nurse Thank you for the sacrifice that you have done for our country Australia.

Thank you for keeping this amazing country safe from extinction. Thank you for your effort that you have put in.

You will always be remembered as a saviour hero and fighter for Australia. You have been honoured as a strong, faithful and exquisite person.

I pray that you know that you are a true hero for all you have done – how you made this world peace. Most importantly you have changed the way I have a healthy life in the beautiful country.

from Charlotte Dear soldier or nurse Thanks for what you did in the war and I hope you are okay. I pray for you and your family. What you did for our country was amazing. THANK you so much. I am grateful for what you did. You have changed my belief because if you did not do what you did I would not be here. (You) will always be remembered by me.

Thank you.

from a student at OLGC Dear soldier or nurse, Thank you for fighting for us, sacrificing your lives, bringing our country freedom, helping others and being brave.

You have made changes to a lot of people’s lives by being by their side and helping them. You have made changes to all Australians by fighting and helping.

We wouldn’t be free without you.

Image credits

This nurse of the Royal Australian Air Force looked after soldiers wounded in the Second World War in New Guinea, while they were being flown home to Australia.

(AWM OG3345)

These Australian Army soldiers returned to Australia in July 1945 after serving for five years during the Second World War. (AWM 094340)

More than 1000 Australians have been awarded the Distinguished Service Order for distinguished service during wartime.

The Distinguished Flying Cross was created in 1918 and has been awarded to more than 2390 Australians for acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying in operations against enemy forces.

Poppies were a common flower on the battlefields of the Western Front during the First World War and have since become a lasting symbol of remembrance.

Rosemary is also worn on Anzac Day as a symbol of remembrance and commemoration.

The Military Medal is the most widely awarded bravery decoration.

More than 11,000 Australians have earned this award, for bravery in battle on land.

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