Spirit of the ANZACs
This painting was created on ANZAC Day 2025 as a personal tribute to all past and present Australian and New Zealand service personnel — including the animals who stood beside them. It honours their courage, sacrifice, and enduring spirit, in times of both war and peace.
The silhouetted soldiers stand back-to-back beneath the Southern Cross, facing the rising sun — a symbol of remembrance and the dawn of a new day. The Australian soldier wears the slouch hat adorned with the Rising Sun badge, while the New Zealand soldier wears the Brodie helmet — both timeless emblems of ANZAC identity and unity.
To either side, faint images of a kangaroo and kiwi are embedded in the golden sky, representing the national identities and shared heritage of both nations. Below, the golden wattle and silver fern intertwine, rooted in a landscape of remembrance.
The red poppies across the foreground symbolise the fallen men and women who gave their lives in service. Among them, the purple poppies represent the service animals — the horses, donkeys, dogs, and others — whose loyalty and sacrifice are equally worthy of honour. The mounted light horse figures in the distance reflect the bravery of mounted troops who played a pivotal role in ANZAC campaigns.
This painting draws inspiration from Lee Kernaghan’s "Spirit of the ANZACs," a song that brings the voices of the past into the present and reminds us that remembrance is not just about history — it's about identity. These lyrics are at the heart of this work:
“…The spirit of the ANZACs
Proud and strong
Spirit of the ANZACs
Will live on and on and on…”
And so we remember…
“He is all of them. She is all of them. They are one of us.”
LEST WE FORGET
Product features
- 50% cotton and 50% polyester fabric blend for coziness
- Ribbed knit collar for shape retention
- Embroidery decoration available on various areas of the sweatshirt
- Made in Nicaragua with compliance to flammability and safety requirements
- Ethically grown US cotton used in production
Care instructions
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Do not iron
- Do not dryclean
Please note that you may receive multiple parcels when ordering.
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EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Gildan 18000, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Warnings, Hazard: For adults, Made in Nicaragua
Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: low heat, Do not iron, Do not dryclean