Awardee Reflection - Alby Bradshaw

 

MORE THAN JUST A TRIP

When I first stepped foot in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I was instantly shocked by this incredible place. Little did I know that this country would just keep getting better!

 

The lessons I learnt on this trip were truly life changing. Standing where the courageous ANZAC soldiers stood in Nui Dat and Long Tan was an incredibly touching feeling, as I reflected on what it would be like to stand in the same place all those years ago.

 

Through stepping in the footsteps and learning about historic battles such as Long Tan and the diggers in the Cu Chi tunnels, I was able to really identify why the ANZAC spirit is so special. The values of Mateship, Sacrifice, Courage and Resilience came to life at a very special service at Long Tan, as-well as a heart touching ANZAC service led by our RSL representative Dennis. Learning about the story of Long Tan, and after laying a flower at the memorial I felt even more inspired to live out the ANZAC values in my life, which I see as a way of paying respect to those who were knocked down in war, living those values to the fullest.

 

The biggest lesson I learnt from this trip is to be grateful for what we have. After visiting an orphanage and seeing children living with disabilities and a very difficult lifestyle, I have never been more thankful for the life that I am lucky enough to live. I bought along a bunch of AFL footballs to give to the children at the orphanage. I knew this would be an awesome feeling but I never thought it would make me feel the way I did. As I gave one of the children named Nam his very own football, I was instantly touched by the look of pure joy and gratitude in his eyes. It meant the world to him, and although I taught him how to kick a footy, he taught me the most important lesson of being grateful for everything in my life.

 

I am incredibly grateful for my loving family and friends, my safe home and country, my bodies ability to play sport and have fun, safe food and water, and the incredible ANZACs who persevered through such challenging times to give us the life we are all so lucky to live in Australia.

 

I am very thankful for the amazing opportunity I have had to experience this trip with such amazing people. Thank you to all the other awardees for making this trip so memorable. Thank you to Aaron, Tracy, Adam, Lara, Rebecca, Martin our tour guide and Dennis our veteran for your amazing support throughout the trip, to make it such an incredible experience for us all. I couldn’t have asked for a better group to explore and learn about such amazing things with.