ANZAC day.

Today is ANZAC day, originally to commemorate the 1915 landing by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli but since extended to veterans of World War 11 and other conflicts in more recent times.
The ranks are thinning - and other changes are starting to appear. On the one hand the number of children and young adults attending the dawn service and the march increases steadily each year. Many proudly wear their father's or grandfather's medals and it is evident that the sacrifices made to keep this land free of invaders is not forgotten.
But - there are other aspects that are creeping into ANZAC day that are less than pleasant. Earlier this year a group of World War 11 veterans were shocked when the pub at which they had held their annual ANZAC day reunion since returning from that war declined to take their booking. The management simply felt that they drank too slowly because of their age - and the pub could make more money catering for the younger crowd. That decision hit media headlines - and there was a hasty rethink by pub management when patrons deserted them in droves in disgust at their attitude.
Now there is another casualty. Traditionally ANZAC day is the one day of the year when the gambling game " Two-Up " is played in pubs and clubs. It used to be illegal but the cops turned a " blind eye " until the government faced reality and changed the law to give it official legal status on ANZAC day.
Many pubs and clubs this year are not holding the game. They complain that in recent years crowd behaviour has resulted in brawls and damage - and hastily add that the problem is not veterans but young people who lack both discipline and good manners - and are poor losers when the fall of the coins go against them.
We live in an ever changing world. Maybe the answer is to restrict " Two-Up " games to those who deserve the honour - and qualify by wearing their campaign medals on this " one day of the year " !