Southern Cross Song Book -.Allans Music
ANZAC DAY –(Remembrance Day)
Words and Music by Bene Gibson Smyth.
This was the title of a song/hymn we learnt at Fairfield Primary School, Victoria, Australia, in years prior to the outbreak of World War 11, although war clouds were threatening. Every Anzac Day since I left the school in 1940, I sing it, although I never hear it sung as part of remembrance ceremonies. I wonder why.
We were seated , cross-legged, in the Assembly Hall. The Australian Flag and timber Honour Board for former students stood behind the speakers. The poem “On the twenty-fifth of April, far across the sea, our brave Australian Soldiers stormed Gallipoli………” was recited by a student. The President of the Fairfield Returned Servicemens’ League always came to remind us, and share with, the families around us there who were still grieving for lost family members. The tragedy and futility of war, and our responsibility to remember the sacrifices made, were explained, and ‘’Lest we forget” was repeated after the speaker. This was very solemn thinking for 4-11 year olds 78 years ago. There are now thousands more young people lying in war cemeteries, or are a name on a monument. The Great War was not the war to end wars, as was hoped. There was no victory, an Armistice was signed. I have visited war cemeteries, and remember the grief, with this song, my Australian lament.
Do you remember this? It can be found on page 6 in Allans Music Southern Cross Song Book, shown above.
Dear Allans Music Shops, Melbourne.
For over 80 years, you were my second home for songs, anthems, oratorios, songsters, keyboard music, strings, organ and group instrumental works, teaching and examining music, music dictionaries and histories, and musical instruments as well. You served me well. Central music studio hire was available too.
Thank you, thankyou, for making a Melbourne musician’s life affordable and possible. Your sheet music still fills my home, and I wish we could hear again those memorable songs and hymns for school, church, choirs, community, soloists, bands and orchestras.
Your sheet music still fills my home, and I miss the family music making at home. My current weekly sessions of playing for elderly citizens prove to me, that memory and therapeutic value from learning, hearing, sharing and reading music early in life, even our times tables as a chant and alphabet as a class song, enriches our lives through aural memory. Music lifts the spirit, and is a precious gift to share.
There is a song to remember for everything, as we Turn back the Hands of Time.
