If you attend this week's Rotary Melbourne Wednesday's meeting and presentation of the Monash Medal to the Hon Josh Frydenberg, you will receive a small blue ribbon to pin on your lapel. This reminds us of a custom that originated in 1916.
On 25 April 1916, the first anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, while at Tel-el-Kebir, Monash and his men solemnly observed Anzac Day. Monash distributed red ribbons to soldiers present at the first landing and blue ribbons to those who came later.
In November 1917, AIF orders authorised the wearing of a small badge in the form of the letter "A" on unit colour patches to denote that the wearer had taken part in the 1915 Gallipoli campaign.
Please wear your ribbon this week, and explain to anyone who asks you, the origin of the tradition.
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