Sitting down in front of the Anzac Day March in 1969, in order to protest Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War was not planned. I did so because neither of my mates turned up for the protest and I felt it safer in the middle of the road, rather than holding my protest poster among the cheering crowds. Looking up that day, as I was escorted from the roadway, eyes acknowledged each other as my cousin’s husband rode past as one of the leading mounted police.
I had participated in Anzac Day ceremonies at school and as a Cub Scout, but as a young adult, it had not been my inclination to participate.
I possibly reflected my dad’s ambivalence about Anzac Day. I remember seeing the bayonet he brought home from New Guinea where he served as an engineer. Fortunately he had not been significantly impacted by his service time and his “postcards’ from the front suggested his sense of humour had remained intact. His non attendance at Anzac Day ceremonies though reflected his disinterest, or perhaps his opposition, to war.
I had participated in Anzac Day ceremonies at school and as a Cub Scout, but as a young adult, it had not been my inclination to participate.
I possibly reflected my dad’s ambivalence about Anzac Day. I remember seeing the bayonet he brought home from New Guinea where he served as an engineer. Fortunately he had not been significantly impacted by his service time and his “postcards’ from the front suggested his sense of humour had remained intact. His non attendance at Anzac Day ceremonies though reflected his disinterest, or perhaps his opposition, to war.
Norfolk Island Rapid Transport Unit
Dad served in workshops in Port Moresby, Lae, Salamaua, Labu Lagoon focused primarily on the servicing and repair of boats utilized up and down the coast of New Guinea. On Norfolk Island he developed a fondness for over-ripe bananas, photography and celebrating the ridiculous.
Only later have I researched his dad, my grand-father’s WW1 service record. Charles spent a number of years with Australia’s first field hospital in France as a hospital orderly.
Reminiscences from my dad suggested that my grandfather’s compassion and warmth had not diminished as a result of the terrible things he would have witnessed.
Only later have I researched his dad, my grand-father’s WW1 service record. Charles spent a number of years with Australia’s first field hospital in France as a hospital orderly.
Reminiscences from my dad suggested that my grandfather’s compassion and warmth had not diminished as a result of the terrible things he would have witnessed.
Charles Jensen in the middle with two mates
My dad, after losing a leg as a result of his muscular dystrophy and his roll-your-own smoking habit begun in the army, took to the personal computer. He was encouraged to write his autobiography. This was a memory shared of his dad, my grand-father, whom I unfortunately never met.
‘One incident that has always stuck in my mind, and was a good lesson for me in tolerance. This tolerance though may have worn a bit thin along with my hair and my teeth as years go by.
It happened on one occasion when my dad had just finished concreting a new path down the side of our house. Connecting up with an existing path from our front gate. A young boy about eight, a couple of years younger than me, who lived a few houses away from us, rushed in our front gate, straight down the old path and onto the fresh cement. Each step he took went deeper into the cement. He got a heck of a fright himself and I yelled at him but my dad promptly checked me, explaining that he did not mean to do it and he did not know it was fresh cement. Dad went over to the boy and comforted him as he expected to get his head knocked off. Dad told him not to worry as he could easily fix the path, which he did by getting his trowel and leveling it all out again, then taking us both inside and giving us a drink of some sort’.
On the other hand, my brother’s legacy from serving as an infantryman in Vietnam continues to haunt. He is the shell of the young man who left Australia fit and enthusiastic. He was rescued by the Vietnam Veterans’ Association, to whom I will always have a debt of gratitude.
With a decision by the Australian War Memorial to recognise the colonial wars against First Nations People and appreciating my mate Graeme’s commitment to Legacy and the local RSL, I discover that I can now stand comfortably in honour of those who served.
‘One incident that has always stuck in my mind, and was a good lesson for me in tolerance. This tolerance though may have worn a bit thin along with my hair and my teeth as years go by.
It happened on one occasion when my dad had just finished concreting a new path down the side of our house. Connecting up with an existing path from our front gate. A young boy about eight, a couple of years younger than me, who lived a few houses away from us, rushed in our front gate, straight down the old path and onto the fresh cement. Each step he took went deeper into the cement. He got a heck of a fright himself and I yelled at him but my dad promptly checked me, explaining that he did not mean to do it and he did not know it was fresh cement. Dad went over to the boy and comforted him as he expected to get his head knocked off. Dad told him not to worry as he could easily fix the path, which he did by getting his trowel and leveling it all out again, then taking us both inside and giving us a drink of some sort’.
On the other hand, my brother’s legacy from serving as an infantryman in Vietnam continues to haunt. He is the shell of the young man who left Australia fit and enthusiastic. He was rescued by the Vietnam Veterans’ Association, to whom I will always have a debt of gratitude.
With a decision by the Australian War Memorial to recognise the colonial wars against First Nations People and appreciating my mate Graeme’s commitment to Legacy and the local RSL, I discover that I can now stand comfortably in honour of those who served.
Vic and Bob Jensen – Anzac Day 1994
I look forward to joining my great grandfather, my father and my brother, in spirit and memory at least, during this coming Anzac Day dawn service.
Graham Jensen
April 2023
Graham Jensen
April 2023
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