From Emma’s desk

Sydney Office

Postal Address GPO Box 3270 Sydney NSW 2001

Ph. 02 9254 5000

Melbourne Office

Postal Address PO Box 5005 South Melbourne VIC 3205

Ph. 03 9682 0500

Brisbane Office

Postal Address PO Box 3599 South Brisbane QLD 4101

Ph. 07 3255 1002

www.icmsaust.com.au

30 April 2020

The ANZAC SpiritApril 25 has always been a significant date in the Australian calendar but never more so than this year as marking ANZAC Day felt both a tribute to past wars and also a point of reflection on the current one against an opponent unseen. The anniversary of the first campaign at Gallipoli that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War has been shaped over many years and is gaining more popularity with the youth of Australia than ever before.

As talk of a “Trans-Tasman” agreement of travel and lifted restrictions between Australia and New Zealand emerges it really does shine a light on this wonderful history we share. Australia’s official war historian Charles Bean characterised the Anzac stereotype as one who, among other qualities, “possessed a sardonic sense of humour and proved himself the equal of anyone on the battlefield”. It would be wonderful to think that our return to some form of normalcy could include our Trans-Tasman cousins in a state of recovery with the same characteristics intact.

I commemorated ANZAC Day morning, as many did, standing at the end of my driveway and thankful for the wonderful music teacher neighbour whose son appeared before dawn in full school uniform to play The Last Post. I counted 17 people at the end of their driveways, candles alight. Somewhere up the end of the street a resident played the National Anthem when the Last Post’s haunting note finished. It was all extremely emotional and community enriching.

I spent some time reflecting on the sacrifices of young men (mostly) who went off to war with a willingness to serve. I recalled the stories shared of my late father-in-law, George Holliday, who was shipped off to Burma. He was a 24 year-old baker from a town in North Yorkshire who found his world turned upside-down in enemy terrain fighting the Japanese as well as monsoons and malaria. George’s Captain, after the first attack where significant lives were lost, went off into the jungle and committed suicide at the despair of it all. But, this young man literally soldiered on with his unit and in the end the Allies were victorious. I thought to myself; if a young man from Yorkshire can overcome such uncertainty and fear, then so can we!

Resourcefulness, enterprise and endurance, with a healthy dash of comradeship, is certainly true of the ICMSA team. As I stood at the end of my driveway I also felt a deep sense of gratitude to my colleagues who are undertaking this journey with me during such challenging times. Whilst we aren’t fighting a physical war, we are using all the skills we have to stay united and strong to work towards a brighter future. I thank them all sincerely.

Yours sincerely,

Emma Bowyer Managing Director | emmab@icmsaust.com.au

Accept the challenges so you can feel the exhilaration of victory.

Gen. George S. Patton