Anzac Day Ceremony Poem by Melinda Horton

At this year’s Anzac Day Ceremony at The Brisbane Golf Club, we were honoured to hear a deeply personal and reflective poem by Melinda Horton, daughter of BGC Member John Horton. Written following her visit to Gallipoli, Melinda’s words are shaped by the powerful emotions evoked by standing on that historic ground.

Her poem captures both the scale of the campaign and the quiet humanity found within it. She honours the courage, sacrifice and shared spirit of those who served. Through her vivid imagery and heartfelt reflection, Melinda invites us to see Gallipoli not only as a place of conflict, but as a lasting symbol of remembrance and peace.

Madness and Sadness, Lest We Forget

The honour of visiting Gallipoli;

heartbreaking and humbling its impact on me.

Too young to remember the forces of will

that drove almost a million troops here to kill.

The Cove itself is quite small, just 600 meters long

where landed thousands of Aussies, Kiwis and Poms.

There were French and Indian armies too

and a Maori contingent, which I never knew.

Aussie troops were told to dig, dig, dig until safe

and so as ‘Diggers’ they became known, along with “hey mate”.

For nine long months the battles for land and sea were fought,

this place now revered, who then would have thought?

Too long after many boys were dead and maimed

Anzacs and Turks saw that we’re all really the same.

“Smoke with pleasure good enemies” they wrote on the packs

of ciggies and choccies tossed forth and back.

Their resting place is idyllic, by the Aegean Sea

it’s peaceful and calm, a light breeze through the trees.

Etched headstones mark some of their graves,

light horsemen and troopers, young and brave.

Between their markers grow flowers and I can also see

lavender so fragrant, home to bumble bees.

The memorials are poignant and visitors each year

join families and friends of the fallen, and we all shed a tear.

After that “great” war many old empires fell;

what would our world be otherwise, whoever can tell?

I’ve been blessed with a life those boys never did get;

the madness and sadness, Lest We Forget.

Melinda Horton, July 2015