Dallas Rowland has been a GIANTS member since 2013 and reflects on the significance of ANZAC Day as the GIANTS played on his special occasion for the first time.

It's 3am Saturday the 25th April 2015, a day that marks the 100 Year Celebration of the ANZAC Day landing, my son and I are standing in the darkness before the sun rises in Canberra at the Australian War Memorial to be a part of this momentous event, the ANZAC Day Dawn Service.


We listen to proud servicemen read extracts from our brave diggers diary entries and letters sent home to their loved ones. How strong, how brave these soldiers were.


As the sun rose over the horizon I stood there feeling very proud to be an Australian.


After the service we toured the Memorial and we took the opportunity to have our photo taken beside Simpson and his donkey,. Here was a digger who exemplified the ANZAC spirit, he showed courage and strength with a never give up attitude.


This afternoon we were going to see our football team the GWS GIANTS play a game our diggers enjoyed even during all the atrocities of war. We are able to enjoy this great game in our beautiful country because of their sacrifices.


Before the game both teams stood in line facing each other, a flag pole with the Australian flag at half-mast, servicemen stood at attention while the New Zealand and Australian national anthems were sung followed by the sound of a bugle playing the Last Post and then the reading of the Ode.


For a second time this day my son and I stood together filled with emotion and pride.


The game got underway and our team played hard and fast getting away to a commanding lead which we held to the finish, the boys played with an ANZAC spirit, a commitment to each other and us their supporters, to win on this very special day and win they did.


We stood again, but this time to sing our team song and we sang it with pride with all the supporters to say thank you to the players who like our diggers never gave up and gave us a fantastic win.


Today I am proud to be an Australian, a Dad, and a GIANTS supporter.


Thank you to all those brave men and women who we remember on this day.
 
Lest we forget.