Happyand safeholidays

Happyand safeholidays

HAVE you ever come across a word inthe newspaper that you haven’t seenbefore or don’t know what it means?This week’s word is REMINISCEDefinition: (verb) to recall pastexperiences and events

What’s OnlineNiE online is an integral part of theprogram and provides extrainformation and resources that supportthis page.Go online by visiting your

newspaper’s website.You will find the address on the front

page. Look for the NiE logo at the topof the page and click! This will link youto APN’s NiE webpage.australiansatwar.gov.au/The Australians at War website has

animated documentaries, video, audio,games and activities that you cancheck out to learn more about some ofthe greatest events in our wartimehistory.

WORDY NEWS

CHECK ITOUT

CHECK ITOUT

Which two countries areofficially at war after a

cease-fire agreement wasrevoked?

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QUIZ TIMEEach week we will test yourknowledge on what’s beenhappening in the news.For the answersvisit NiEonline.

QUIZ TIMEEach week we will test yourknowledge on what’s beenhappening in the news.For the answersvisit NiEonline.

Who is the AustralianGovernment’s Minister forDefence?

What festival was held overthe Easter long weekend in

Byron Bay?

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IN OUR nation’s 225-year modern his-tory, Australians has been involved innumerous conflicts and wars. From thetime of the first settlement at SydneyCove in the 18th century to our peace-keeping roles today war and militaryservice have been significant influenceson Australian society and our nationalidentity.

A Timeline of Aussies at warWhen British marines first stepped on toAustralian soil in 1788 and before Feder-ation in 1901 military units in the Aus-tralian colonies emerged and contributedto the New Zealand Wars in the 1860s, tothe Sudan in 1885 and to the Boer War1899-1902.After Federation, the Australian Com-monwealth raised an army and esta-blished the Royal Military College atDuntroon (1911).In late 1914 The Australian ImperialForce (AIF) was raised to serve overseasin support of the British Empire. Initiallysent to Egypt, Australian troops foughtat Gallipoli, in Palestine and on the West-ern Front.The Second World War (1939-1945) sawAustralians from the Army, Navy and AirForce fight a long and gruelling warthrough North Africa, Syria, Greece,Crete, Malaya, New Guinea and thesouth-west Pacific.In September 1947 the AustralianRegular Army was formed.Between 1950 and 1953 Austra-

The decorated history of our involvement in wars around the worldshows a country that punches well above its weight. In such a shorttime, Australians have participated in battles around the world.

Aussies at warFACT FILE

The first military in Australia were theMarine soldiers and officers who cameas guards of the convicts on the FirstFleet in 1788.The ADF has just over 80,000 full-timepersonnel and active reservists.

lia joined a multinational force on theKorean peninsula to fight North Ko-rean and Chinese Communist forces ina short, but bloody war that technicallyhas not ended.Australian units were deployed dur-ing South-East Asian conflicts from1954 to 1961.The Australian military’s commit-ment to the VietnamWar lasted from1962 to 1972.The Australian Defence Force hasbeen sending troops to UN peacekeep-ing operations since 1947 and has aproud history of contributing to secur-ity and stability missions around theworld.Peacekeeping engagements remainan important role for our militarypersonnel.

A day to commemorateOn Anzac Day we observe the commit-ment made by those who have servedand are currently serving with ourarmed forces, in ceremonies heldin towns and cities across thecountry.

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The Australian War MemorialOne of Australia’s most-visitedcultural attractions located in ournation’s capital, Canberra, is theAustralian War Memorial. Opened in1941, it is a place of greatsignificance that gives visitors theopportunity to discover our nation’smilitary heritage. The memorialcommemorates the service andsacrifice of all Australian men andwomen in wartime. It consists ofthree parts: the commemorative area(shrine), the memorial’s galleries(museum) and research centre(records). If you can’t visit it inperson, check it out at awm.gov.au.

News in the SpotlightDiscuss the following topic and letus know what you think.Home for ChristmasThe end is firmly in sight for

Australian troops based inAfghanistan. Defence MinisterStephen Smith has announced thatat least 1000 regular troops of apresent force of about 1600 will bereturning home by the end of theyear with the planned closure of amain base in Afghanistan.After a decade of war and 39

combat deaths, the government’sdecision to withdraw was in line withits transition timetable out ofAfghanistan by the end of 2014.Mr Smith also revealed that

Australia's 300 Special Forces couldjoin the main withdrawal byDecember 31 if the governmentdecided there was insufficientreason for them to stay.

In Your OpinionGo to NiE online and take a poll: Isthe return of 1000 troops overdueor should Australian soldiersremain in Afghanistan?

OUR GREAT HISTORY: TheAustralian War Memorial inCanberra. PHOTO: LUKAS COCH/AAP

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