Every year on ANZAC day I take the time to reflect.
So many of our young men gave their lives for our freedom. They fought and died for us, and some were captured and tortured. Yet they pushed on, and it has been said that without the Aussie spirit and comradeship, some would not have had the will to go on.

My Great Grandfather, Lionel Oliver Gordon Cripps, fought in the 2/26th 8th battallion. He was captured as a Prisoner Of War, and was forced to work on the Burma Railroad. He was one of the lucky ones, he made it home. Many weren't so lucky.

In the same camp, was none other than Sir Weary Dunlop. My Nan was telling me today how he would use the littel tin spoons the Japanese gave them to eat with to scoop out infected wounds and abscesses, because the guards refused medical treatment. If a soldier fell beside the railway, Sir Weary Dunlop would cause a diversion, so that he would get the beatings instead of his comrade. It makes me proud to know that I am a descendant of a great man who served with another great man, and all the other great men of the time.

The special link I have with my Great Grandfather, is that I was born on his birthday, and although I have never met him and he is since deceased, I have felt his presence on several occasions.

To all our service men and women, both in the past and the present, I say THANKYOU. I am just one voice, but I mean it with all my heart.

I am proud to be Australian. Lest We Forget.

Unknown "11. NOT FOR SALE" Sad - 16 years, 7 months, 6 days ago

My tale starts 122kg ago. I was very overweight, unemployed, and my life was going nowhere.
I had always been an ambitious pet, so one day I decided to do something about my body, clean myself up, and get a job. As luck would have it, I got a job, and started to make changes to my diet.
I got my weight down to 90kg...then my pop passed away, and i was upset and i started eating lots of junk food again. One day I climbed on the scales and I almost burst into tears - I was back up to 111kg.
About a week later I had to run an errand for my master, and happened to walk past a gym. Without even thinking, I walked in and signed up there and then.
I learnt how to lose weight, made a lot of new friends, and the important thing is I have maintained my weight. Currently I am sitting at 88.4kg, however I am now a powerlifter, and I have a lot of muscle which weights more than fat. Im strong, healthy, and I am in the process of writing a book on how to lose weight....Doing it Denai's Way!
Losing weight is the best thing I ever did, and if i could help other people do it too, I would be very happy. I have lost around 34kg - and if I can anyone can!
Unknown "11. NOT FOR SALE" Sad - 16 years, 10 months, 12 days ago