Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

2024 Anzac Day speech written by Drew Giovine, grandson of Mario Giovine

Anzac Day. A day sacred to our nation. We stand to honour and remember all those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice for our Country. Each of us I’m sure has a unique connection to this day and reflect in our own way on the sacrifice and bravery shown by the Anzacs.

For me, Anzac Day has always held a special significance, as I pause to think about one particular hero very dear to me - my grandfather, a World War 2 veteran. I imagine him not as my grandpa, but as a young man. Barely out of boyhood when he answered the call to serve. At just 18 years of age, he made the extraordinary decision to stand up and defend our nation.

As I hear the notes of the last post echo through the air, and I close my eyes as we observe a minute of silence, I picture him. A young soldier far from home, facing the uncertainties and terrors of war. I imagine the fear he must have had. But how brave He and the millions of other men and women who fought for our freedom were.

I would like to thank Meredith and the Magill RSL for the honour of inviting me to share his story today.

Mario Giovine is the last world war 2 veteran at the Magill RSL. He sits proudly up here today, fit as a fiddle and in November will turn 100 years young.

Born in northern Italy in 1924. His family immigrated to Australia in 1928 when he was 4 years old. First moving to a farm up in Summertown in the Adelaide Hills. Mario was 1 one 4 Children.

His Dad Giovanni later purchased a property in Franklin Street in the city where he opened a shoe repair store. A job he had whilst in the Italian army. Bought on by family tragedy and the economic pressures during the 1930’s At 13 years old Mario was forced to leave school and get a job to help support his family. Having helped his Dad with shoe repairs around the shop, he easily talked his way into an apprentice job at Rossiters Boot factory, which we now know as Rossi Boots. Rossis were the footwear for the Australian Army in WW1 and 2.

Producing these shoes and contributing to the war effort, he knew he could do more and made the decision, on the 18th Jan 1943 to enlist in the Australian Military Force at Wayville. He begun his training up at Woodside. He would soon receive word he was being sent to New Guinea to fight Japan. He would form part of the 4th Infantry Battalion.

Departing Cairns aboard the SS Van Heutsz, they arrived in Lae in the Finschhafen region.

When asked about his first memory of arriving in New Guinea, he recalls utter devastation to the trees and surrounding areas from the bombs.

The campaign of Lae would be of strategic importance in the battle of New Guinea.  

When orders came to move, Mario remembers very clearly being piled onto barges in the middle of the night to make the trip up to the northern coast to Sio. There was no cover on these barges, they travelled all night making their way around the coast of New Guinea. He recalls the rough seas, the waves were splashing up the sides and into the barge, pooling at their feet. Many of the men were sea sick, he says the stench as unbearable.

In Sio, after setting out their perimeter there was a huge sense of panic amongst the soldiers. He remembers each of them digging small trenches, just big enough for them to lay in and take cover should there be enemy fire. Something that would prove useful. One morning Mario woke to find shrapnel had torn through his mosquito net, as a result of nearby grenade activity. 

When asked about his direct contact with the Japanese forces. As part of a Militia in the army they would often be involved with patrols. The natives in NG would come report sightings of the enemy and their section would be responsible for going and finding them.

Mario talks about the conditions when tracking them, moving through the jungle, being careful not to break a stick or accidently kick a rock on the ground to give away their position. They had to cross large numbers of creeks and battle fast flowing rivers, as a result of the monsoonal rains. He said I didn’t have dry socks for 2 years.

1st May 1945, after a brief return to Australia he went back to New Guinea for a second time. Some of this tour was spent guarding a prison camp.

News soon came that the war had ended. Mario stayed on in NG doing certain admin / clerical tasks. When asked recently to describe the Japanese prisoners he says “they were good fellas” I had a job to do, they had a job to do. But underneath our uniforms we were all just people!!!”

He said one Japanese prisoner offered to make him some pyjamas out of a parachute even, which he enjoyed wearing.  .

After returning to Australia as a Lance Corporal and serving 3 ½ years Mario settled back into civilian life and returned to his profession as a bootmaker.

He would come to meet my grandma Jean, and they married in 1949. They had 3 children and eventually settled into their family home a few streets away in Magill in 1963. Maurie joined the Magill RSL which led to the tradition of us attending Anzac Day Services here with him.

I extend my deepest gratitude to my grandfather and to all those who have served for our country. Their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten, their legacy will endure for generations to come.

Lest We Forget.