Taking Pictures at the Beach with your

Digital Camera

To take pictures at the beach, you need two other things in addition to your digital camera. First, if your digital camera isn’t waterproof or water-resistant, you’ll want some type of waterproof case or plastic bag to protect your camera. Second, because sand and salt from the ocean water can build up on your camera, you need a soft lint-free cloth and a blower brush for keeping your camera clean.

Take time and care to protect your camera from the elements when taking pictures at the beach. Avoid swimmers who are splashing water and be aware of wind conditions. Another tip for keeping your camera clean is to rinse your hands in fresh water and dry them thoroughly before handling your camera if you’ve been in the ocean. Also, you should never leave your camera out in the sun.

In and of themselves, beaches make for some of the most beautiful settings for any photo. To take even better beach pictures, follow these tips:

1. The two best times of day for taking pictures at the beach are early morning and late afternoon. The sun is brightest at midday, which can make setting the right exposure difficult.
2. If you’re not sure which exposure setting is best, bracket your exposures using -0.3 as the midpoint. A manual mode, if your camera has one, can also help.
3. Beaches tend to be incredibly bright, so use a low ISO setting unless the sun is low. For the best results, don’t exceed a setting of ISO 100.
4. Spot metering will help you set the right exposure when taking portraits of people on the beach.
5. Try a variety of vantage points, such as looking down from an elevated position or lying on your stomach.
6. Tell a story with your photos. Some examples of good subjects include seashells and children playing in the sand.
7. The strong overhead light caused by the sun can create shadows. You can illuminate them with a fill-in flash.
8. For more vibrant colours, try a polarising filter.
9. Don’t forget that stormy days can make for some of the most striking photos. Just be sure to keep your camera protected from the spray.

Taking pictures at the beach with your digital camera can also pose a few unique challenges. Here are some things to watch out for:

1. Getting the horizon straight can be difficult, especially when there are sloping sand dunes in the frame. An on-demand grid screen is very helpful for composing your shot with a straight horizon. If you don’t have a grid screen, try imaging that the sand dunes aren’t there to determine where the horizon is.
2. To avoid blown-highlights, one option is to use your camera’s Beach/Snow mode. An even more effective method is to set the exposure compensation to -0.3 or -0.7EV. Review your photos and continue to experiment until you find the optimal exposure level.
3. Use a polariser to reduce the potential for glare caused by bright patches of sunlight reflecting off the water’s surface.

About Canon New Zealand
Canon New Zealand (www.canon.co.nz) was established in New Zealand in 1991 and is a subsidiary of the US$29.9 billion Canon Inc. group. The company is an industry leader in professional and consumer imaging solutions with a comprehensive product line that includes: networked multifunction devices, digital and analogue copiers (colour and black & white), printers, scanners, video conferencing, image filing systems, fax machines, digital video cameras, cameras and lenses. Canon New Zealand also operates its own lease finance serve, Canon Finance New Zealand, which facilitates “one stop” shopping for customers wanting to lease or finance their equipment solutions. Canon Inc. is a top patent-holder of imaging technologies.

New Zealand – Land Of The Long White Cloud

New Zealand is a country in the Southern Hemisphere in the Oceania region, which is called Aotearoa in Māori, which translates as the Land of the Long White Cloud, It is a country of rare seismic beauty enriched with glacial mountains, fast-flowing rivers, deep, clear lakes, hissing geysers and boiling mud. New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, being separated from Australia to the northwest by the Tasman Sea, some 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) across. Its closest neighbours to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.

The capital city of New Zealand is Wellington. It has got its independence on 26 September 1907 from UK. The Maori, from eastern Polynesia, first settled New Zealand sometime after 800AD. Abel Tasman, a Dutch mariner, discovered New Zealand for Europeans in 1642. He was followed by Captain James Cook of the British Navy in 1769, and later by seal-traders, loggers, whalers and Christian missionaries.

The government type is parliamentary democracy where Elizabeth II is the Queen of New Zealand and is represented by a non-partisan Governor-General; the Queen ‘reigns but does not rule’, so she has no real political influence. Political power is held by the Prime Minister, who is leader of the Government. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue, which are entirely self-governing, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand’s territorial claim in Antarctica).

For the administration of environmental and transport matters New Zealand has 12 regional councils and 74 territorial authorities to administer roading, sewerage, building consents, and other local matters. The territorial authorities are 16 city councils, 57 district councils, and the Chatham Islands County Council.

New Zealand has a population of about 4.1 million. About 70% of the population are of European descent. New Zealand-born Europeans are collectively known as Pākeha – this term is used variously and some Māori use it to refer to all non-Māori New Zealanders.

Christianity is the predominant religion in New Zealand, although nearly 40% of the population has no religious affiliation. The main Christian denominations are Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism, Presbyterianism and Methodism. According to census figures there are Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% of the overall population.

New Zealand comprises two main islands, the North and South Islands, and a number of smaller islands. The total land area of New Zealand is 268,680 square kilometres (103,738 sq mi) which is a little less than that of Italy and Japan, and a little more than the United Kingdom. The country has approximatly 15,134 km of coastline. The most significant of the smaller inhabited islands of New Zealand include Stewart Island/Rakiura; Waiheke Island, in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf; Great Barrier Island, east of the Hauraki Gulf; and the Chatham Islands, named Rekohu by Moriori.

The South Island is the largest land mass in New Zealand, and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps, the highest peak of which is Aoraki(Mount Cook), 3,754 metres (12,316 ft). There are 18 peaks of more than 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) in the South Island. The North Island is less mountainous than the South, but is marked by volcanism. The tallest North Island mountain, Mount Ruapehu (2,797 m / 9,176 ft), is an active cone volcano. The dramatic and varied landscape of New Zealand has made it a popular location for the production of television programmes and films, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The country has extensive marine resources, with the fifth-largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world, covering over four million square kilometres (1.5 million sq mi), more than 15 times its land area. There are also abundant native forests, long, deserted beaches and a variety of fauna, such as the kiwi, endemic to its shores.

The climate throughout the country is mild, with temperatures rarely falling below 0°C (32°F) or rising above 30°C (86°F). On the West Coast of the South Island to dry and continental in the Mackenzie Basin of inland Canterbury and subtropical in Northland conditions vary from wet and cold. Christchurch is the driest is the driest of the main cities, receiving only some 640 mm (25 in) of rain per year. Auckland, the wettest, receives a little less than three times that amount.

Until the arrival of humans, other than three species of bat(one now extinct) there were no non-marine mammals. New Zealand’s forests were inhabited by a diverse range of birds including the flightless moa (now extinct), and the kiwi, kakapo, and takahē, all endangered due to human actions. Unique birds capable of flight include the Haast’s eagle, which was the world’s largest bird of prey (now extinct), and the large kākā and kea parrots. Reptiles present in New Zealand include skinks, geckos and tuatara. There are four endemic species of New Zealand primitive frogs. There are no snakes but there are many species of insects, including the weta, one species of which may grow as large as a house mouse and is the heaviest insect in the world.

Planning a Vacation to New Zealand? For your communication needs, Several prepaid calling card and phone card companies are available to call both to and from New Zealand.

Adventures To The End Of The Earth In Christchurch, New Zealand

It may be at the end of the earth for many international travelers but in a lot of ways that’s part of the reason it’s so great. I can’t guarantee that you’ll run into pirates on your travels through Christchurch but I can assure you of a truly unforgettable experience.

Christchurch is in the heart of New Zealand’s South Island, far removed from the overcrowded tourist hot spots of Europe, fighting in the Middle East and pollution in Asia. This is an area of rare beauty, offering visitors the chance to experience the snow capped ski fields of the Southern Alps one day and swim with dolphins the next.

New Zealand is often linked hand in hand with Australia and while they share a lot of cultural similarities, there are huge differences when it comes to why you would visit either. Australia is a South Pacific getaway blessed with beautiful beaches, friendly people and a whole lot of nothing called the outback. New Zealand shares the friendly people but offers a different experience, rich in cultural history, adrenaline pumping adventure sport, spectacular sightseeing, memorable landscapes and unique wildlife.

Christchurch encapsulates all things good about New Zealand and serves them to you on a plate, a new and exciting attraction never more than a couple of hours away. If you’ve seen the Lord of the Rings movies then you might have noticed some of the amazing environments that cover the New Zealand’s South Island. These were no CGI special effects; all these places are just a stone throw from Christchurch and can be part of an amazing vacation, holiday or tour. Be the envy of your friends as you showoff your vacation pictures with pride.

Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region has a strong English heritage and much of this still remains in the city area. Visitors can enjoy a punt along the Avon River, a sightseeing experience on the Tramway or Gondola, a stroll through the majestic Hagley Park or delight in the wonderful Botanical Gardens. Christchurch is New Zealand’s garden city and proudly displays this in the sheer number of beautiful gardens citywide.

New Zealand’s unique location on the globe has led to Christchurch becoming the world’s link to Antarctica. This amazing continent of frozen ice can be experienced from Christchurch’s International Antarctic Centre. More than just learning about Antarctica, visitors can experience icy slopes, sheltering in an ice cave, braving an Antarctic storm and many more fun activities.

Venturing out of Christchurch, head towards the charming French influenced town of Akaroa. Just an hour’s drive from Christchurch, Akaroa is located on the South Island’s Banks Peninsula, an amazing area where numerous outdoor activities can be enjoyed year round. Kayak along an extinct volcano, hike through beautiful walking tracks, enjoy spectacular harbour cruises, mountain bike along coastal hills and enjoy the magical experience of swimming with dolphins. Akaroa’s rich cultural history complements these activities and creates an experience that alone makes a trip to Christchurch worthwhile.

So you’ve taken in the sights, experienced the city and seen the surrounding areas, what’s next you ask? Well why not try the uniquely New Zealand experience of adventure sport! Strap on a parachute, hook on a bungy chord, clip on some skis and hold on for some exhilarating jet boating, white water rafting and more! Christchurch is a stones throw from all these fun adventure sports and more, you don’t have to be a pro athlete to enjoy them and they’ll be something you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Feel the rush as you jump head first from a bridge or plane and let the wild rivers of New Zealand give you the rush of a lifetime as you surge down rapids on a jet boating or rafting adventure. There are a lot of quality tour options available and you’ll enjoy the experience even more as you meet new faces and friendly characters along the way.

If you want something unique and adventurous in a world that is fast losing new and exciting destinations then head to Christchurch, New Zealand. Whether it’s part of wider New Zealand experience or a specific South Island adventure, you won’t be disappointed. Head to the edge of the earth and see a world you never knew existed. If Middle Earth were truly real you would find it right here in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Real New Zealand – Real Estate

Many people talk about the wonders of New Zealand. Perhaps, that is why you’re thinking of purchasing New Zealand real estate rather than one of the many other properties for sale on the international market. What is alluring to most is that New Zealand real estate that truly reflects the rural beauty and green hills of the New Zealand experience. Not every international real estate experience will offer you this beauty but these tips will help you on your quest in finding property in the “Real” New Zealand.

One good place to begin is Northland. It stretches from about 20 minutes north of Auckland to Cape Reinga. New Zealand real estate in this area will offer you the access of many beaches that have been virtually untouched by commercialism, important New Zealand history, and a full Maori culture. Northland is without a doubt the perfect lush image that you had been dreaming of when you were considering New Zealand real estate. It is truly the picture of the “Real” New Zealand.

Secondly, consider East Cape as a New Zealand real estate search area. This area is home to farming and fishing families, many of whom have worked on the land of this area since New Zealand’s settlement. East Cape is an area where the people are warm, the scenery is beautiful, and the lifestyle is easy going. You may need independent wealth to live in East Cape since there is not an abundance of work available. However, East Cape can offer you an international real estate purchase that will allow you truly get away off the beaten path of the “Real” New Zealand.

Southland, not to be confused with the South Island, is another area where purchasing New Zealand real estate will give you access to some of the friendliest and warmest people in the world. As an international real estate investment, this area is filled with rural, friendly, and beautiful locals. People readily have strangers over for dinner, sheep farming is the name of the game, and the high country is some of the most beautiful in the world. Like East Cape, you may find Southland to be off the beaten path, but a wonderful place to visit and perhaps it will help with your decision to make your New Zealand real estate purchase.

New Zealand is not just about the tourist attractions and the big city of Auckland. If you are considering a New Zealand real estate purchase, you will want to be familiar and comfortable with what the real New Zealand is and what it has to offer. It can be found not down a road or path and it certainly isn’t a secret location, it is in the people of the country and communities. If you are making an international real estate purchase, you want to make sure that you are comfortable with the people, the culture, and the ideals held by them. The real New Zealand is one that most enjoy and perhaps you will as well to such a degree that you will make your New Zealand real estate purchase one for a permanent home.

Leaps of faith: extreme sports with adventurous appeal

Extreme sports have traditionally been the preserve of only the maddest, baddest and most dangerous to know, and of course rebellious teenagers keen to worry their mums. However, as with any trend worth its salt, the history and variety of ‘extreme’ activities – also known as action, adventure or dangerous sports – are more interesting than many people realise, and there are well-established organisations which can help make delving into their adrenaline-pumping world almost as safe as any other hobby.

The phrase ‘extreme sports’ only came into use in the 1990s, probably thanks to the first television coverage of organised events like the X Games. Many enthusiasts actually dislike the term, arguing that most typical activities such as bungee jumping, hang gliding and ice climbing are not ’sports’ in the sense of competing against others to win something, and the ‘extreme’ tag just smacks of mid-90s advertising hype.

Whatever you prefer to call it, extreme sports is a loose and ill-defined category which can include fairly mainstream pastimes like inline skating, BMX biking and snowboarding, (activities which can all involve elaborate spins, stunts and tricks) as well as more ‘out-there’ pursuits such as BASE jumping, freediving, zorbing, swooping, kite landboarding, volcano gliding, shark diving, octopus wrestling, nude parasailing, mafioso cuckolding (alright, that one’s not real).

Just as some of these fall out of fashion – for instance, octopus wrestling is now considered cruel – new sports and clubs are growing up all the time, although several are tongue-in-cheek parodies such as extreme wheelbarrow and the celebrated extreme ironing. Skateboarding and snowboarding, or ’snurfing’ as it was originally called, have been popular since their inception in the 1950s and 60s, while kite surfing can trace its origins back to thirteenth-century China when kites were used, just like sails on boats, to harness the power of the wind and allow streamlined, one-man canoes to go much faster for practical reasons, not just fun!

With so much choice and interest in these previously niche activities, it’s unsurprising that an industry is springing up around extreme sports instruction and adventure holidays, where novices can learn the basics of a sport and then let loose their adventurous spirits in a supervised environment. These experiences could be the ideal gift for the ‘person who has everything’; don’t you know someone who’d rather spend their honeymoon in a cage in the Indian Ocean baiting great white sharks, than admiring their new toaster? Don’t we all?! How about bouncing down a hill in a three-metre, transparent PVC ball, with or without the optional water, and other people, inside it? It’s called zorbing, and it’s seriously taking off as the latest way to spend a fun weekend, from New Zealand to Bournemouth.

Bear in mind that some activities should not be attempted by absolute beginners; the BASE jumping academy will only admit ’students’ who have completed 200 skydives, and swooping, or ‘extreme skydiving’, is similar. As long as you’re clued up about such regulations, got any necessary equipment, and perhaps made sure your life insurance is up to date, though, why not explore a new activity today – the sky really is the limit!

Backpackers – Have Money, Will Travel

The typical image of backpackers is someone who is scrimping on their expenses, opting only to pay for necessities like travel arrangements and food, pretty much anything else is subject to begging, borrowing or dealing. This may have been true in the past but a recent survey of the wandering masses has found that these days they are carrying a lot more money and willing to spend it to enhance their experiences around the world.

It has been found that more backpackers today are saving up more before they venture out to far flung destinations such as Peru, New Zealand and Thailand. Saving money and keeping some aside for funding all the activities you want to do and keeping a small amount aside for emergencies or unforeseen expenses would be the best idea for many backpackers these days.

This makes sense since if you are going to go to a country like New Zealand for example then you are going to do more than just see the country; there’ll be plenty of activities that are typical of the area like skydiving and bungee jumping which will cost money. Should you have saved up some money for your trip and its activities then you’d be able to make memorable moments happen whilst on your world tour.

A recent study found that on average each backpacker will spend £3,764 on their trip and this number can raise or lower depending on your choices whilst away on their <a href=”http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/”>holidays</a>. One other thing to consider is the amount of goods you’ll have on you, many backpackers will travel with a mobile phone for emergency use. Any traveller worth their salt will no doubt have a camera too. When you consider all these valuables it can often rack up to nearly £1,000 worth of goods that you’ll be carrying with you.

This is why it’s advisable for backpackers to invest in travel insurance and there are even some specific backpacker insurance policies that can provide a number of important and useful services should you run into any trouble whilst away.

It’s never too late to discover a new corner of the world and with many <a href=”http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/late-deals/136/”>cheap late deals</a> to all manner of locations you could leave this week if the feeling takes you and many people like gap year students will make impulse choices on the location to visit with many of the usual destinations being their main choice. <a href=”http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/late-deals/136/”>late deals</a> for backpackers can offer a versatile plan for when you are going to leave and when you are to return. Some flight companies have open return deals where you make the choice when you are to return by simply phoning the airline when you want to come home.

Immigration Law – What To Do With Our Parents?

Commonly there is an expectation amongst parents of children in close knit families, particularly when a family is of humble means, that the children will grow up, gain a good education and be successful. Taking this one step further those parents of Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents expect to be able to join their children in Australia as permanent residence and eventually as Australian citizens.

Australian Migration Laws however do not allow parents of every Australian permanent resident or every foreign born Australian citizen to migrate to Australia as a permanent resident. There are a number of conditions that the parents have to fulfil or gateways that they successfully have to negotiate to migrate to Australia. Some of the more important ones are discussed below.

Balance of Family Test

The “balance of family” test is defined in Regulation 1.05 of the Australian Migration Regulations. Briefly, to pass this test a parent must have at least half of his or her children permanently residing in Australia (including eligible New Zealand citizens i.e. children with subclass 444 visas) OR they must have the greatest number of children permanently residing in Australia than in any other single overseas country. By way of an example, a parent who has 5 children and 3 of them live in country A and 2 of them live in Australia, that parent would not satisfy the balance of family test. However if the same parent has 1 child in country A, another child in country B and third child in country C and 2 children in Australia, that parent would satisfy the balance of family test. Further if the parent had 3 children in Australia and 2 in other countries then the balance of family test will be satisfied. If the parent had 4 children and 2 were permanently resident in Australia, the balance of family test would be satisfied.

A person is considered the child of a parent if the person is a child, adopted child or stepchild of the parent or of the spouse of the parent. A child can also be the child of a parent if the child is the child of a former spouse of the parent if that child was adopted by the parent before the parent became the former spouse i.e. while the parent was the spouse of the former spouse.

In assessing children for the balance of family test the following children are not to be considered the children of the parent:

- children who have been adopted by another person;

- a child who has been ordered by a Court to be removed from the exclusive custody of the parent;

- children who have been recognised by UNHCR as refugees and are in a refugee camp;

- children who are not able to be reunited in another country with their parents and who are resident in a country where they are subject of persecution and abuse of human rights;

- step children of a person if those children were born after their parent and a step parent separated;

- step children of a person if the children were over 18 years of age and their parent entered into a relationship with the step parent and relationship between the parent and the step parent has ended by death, separation or divorce.

Unless the “balance of family” test is satisfied, there is no flexibility in succeeding in an application for an Australian permanent resident visa on the basis of being a parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Destination guides: South Island, New Zealand – Part 3

Have you ever wanted to gallop a horse along a deserted black beach strewn with driftwood, experience dropping off a tall bridge only to bounce back again, or just wished to experience peace like nowhere else on earth? The South Island of New Zealand will enable all these once in a lifetime experiences and more.

Whilst the North island of New Zealand offers some of the country’s most recognisable features; the capital City of Wellington and its larger sister city Auckland, Mt Ruapehu and its volcano, Rotorua and the Bay of Islands, a trip to New Zealand would not be complete without seeing the South Island. However with so much to see there, it pays to be informed about your options

Over the length and breadth of the South Island there are some of the most breath taking places to see anywhere in the world. Get out of the car or bus and off the beaten track and you will be rewarded with stunning views, solitude and fresh clean air to breathe. If you are looking for solitude and scenery that will blow you away check out some of these destinations;

*Milford Sound

This destination can only be experienced by those willing to take the time and the effort. Requiring a couple of hours by car or bus to reach the water, you can then explore all that the sound offers by boat. Milford Sound is recognised the world over for Mitre Peak, a magnificent jagged rock towering a vertical mile above the water shadowing much of the water around it. Short hourly cruises on the water, and trips to the underwater observatory are a treat for day trippers. However, take an overnight cruise and you are in for memories to last a life time. As the day visitors depart, silence descends and the sun sets as you paddle your canoe through the dark waters watching the last glimmering rays settle behind the mountains. Real Journeys offer two fantastic over night cruises and numerous day cruises. www.realjourneys.co.nz

*Fox Glacier and Franz Joseph Glacier

Both located on the west coast of the South Island, these glaciers offer a unique experience to all visitors. If you only have time for a quick stop, walk to the base of at least one of these glaciers and touch the ice! It is an awesome feeling to be stood next to one of nature’s wonders and consider how long that block of ice has been in existence. If however you have more time, take a guided glacier hike. You will need to dedicate a few hours to this, but the returns will be more than worth it. As you walk across the ice

Reflections: Death

Live fast, die young. What a waste of life.

To use that statement as a brief on how to live, I have shortlisted 3 possible options.

Number 1. Cram as much as you can into the shortest possible life span. Meaning, (in no particular order) go to school/college/university, fall in love, get married, have kids and get a job. Those are the major points in life right?

Number 2. Forget the time-wasting things like sitting down to watch tv, go out and do something extreme like skydiving or swimming with sharks.

Number 3. Speed everything up. Don’t just walk, run! We’re trying to live fast here!

But in all serious, what is the point? Fair enough if I was to be told I had a matter of months until I was going to meet the guy in the black cloak with the sythe then yes, I’d think about doing something I’ve always wanted to do. But that’s just what I’d do, think about doing it. I wouldn’t actually go to New Zealand and bungee jump of a bridge so that my head dipped in the water. I’d want to spend my remaining time with those I love. I’d want to be how I am now, me. I’d want to live like I did before I was given my appointment with death.

With regards to cramming as much into life as possible, again, what is the point? Okay, I am only young but looking back, high school has been the best time of my life so far. And now, at university I’m spending my days with the funniest, kindest people ever and I wouldn’t ask for anything to be different. So why would I want to hurry things up? I’m enjoying myself and if I was to come to the end of the road tomorrow I could happily say ‘You know what? I’m glad of everything I’ve accomplished and everyone I’ve met’, even though I don’t have a job and I’m not married with kids.

I’m not preaching about how you should live your life, each to their own and all that but what I am doing is highlighting the fact that death will come at some point and when it does, I wouldn’t want to have lived fast, died young and left and inexperienced corpse.

The significance of Anzac Day – Part 1

Military victories across the world are celebrated and remembered. On the 25th of April every year Australians and New Zealanders commemorate ANZAC Day. Far from being a victory the landing at Gallipoli in 1915 was an unmitigated disaster, but as is the case with other noble failures in our history a legend was born from the death and despair. Their stories of courage and endurance in the face of undoubted defeat gave rise to the spirit of the ANZACs and helped to shape the idea of what it meant to be Australian when the nation was still in its formative years.

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and while the two countries have a friendly rivalry in almost every facet of life when it comes to the ANZACs there is no dissension, we stand as one, proud of our forebears and the courage of those who gave birth to the name.

Although the term ANZAC is now applied to all Australians and New Zealanders who fought in World War I, and ANZAC Day has become a time to remember all those lost in war, the original ANZACs were the 1st Australian Division and the composite New Zealand and Australian Division who fought at Gallipoli, Turkey in World War I. All volunteers they landed at dawn on April 25th 1915. They landed in the wrong place and instead of a flat beach they faced steep cliffs and heavy shelling from a large, well organized Turkish army determined to defend their country. After 8 months the offensive turned into retreat but not before 8141 Australians and 2721 New Zealanders died and more than 18000 were wounded.

It is the spirit of these men that is remembered at dawn services in both countries on ANZAC Day. Brave and ferocious an ANZAC faced death with a joke and a smile as they lay dying; risking their lives to give a hand to a mate they had little respect for authority or military discipline. Rebel and larrikin, the ANZAC relied on the bonds of mateship and independent thinking rather than the chain of command and inflexibility of official orders.

The unconventional approach of the ANZACs was carried by others into battle resulting in many victories but it was the original ANZACs who gave form to the idea of what it was to be Australian. Our socialist policies in our capitalist country today reflect the values of these early pioneers of our identity. Universal health care and social security are more about lending a hand to a mate in his time of need than economic theory. A healthy disrespect for our politicians reflects the

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