Grassbrook Equine

For those of you who don't know, Bruce and I are currently in Israel, on a business trip relating to the broiler farm we operate.

We are lucky enought to have some wonderfully hospitable hosts, and have been sightseeing in between the presentations, meetings and excursions.  One excursion took us to a Kibbutz, and since the host knew we were interested in ANZAC related things as well, took us nearby on a sightseeing expedition to the ANZAC memorial on the Israel-Gaza border, that has a Eucalypt forest as well as a solid concrete structure that was the main memorial;  we felt so lucky being taken to this spot, reputed to be one of the main spots that the ANZAC's broke througt the lines.  This memorial is about 20klm from Be'er Sheva, (commonly known to us Australians as Beersheba).  We have photos, and these will be uploaded at first opportunity.

Our guide & host also informed us that while they were digging for house buildings, they found the remains of an ANZAC and of a British soldier.  There was a formal invitiation to the descendants and families to attend the funeral in Israel.

The effect this memorial had, was much more significant than any other I have seen.  Perhaps it was because it was within rocket-range of Gaza- perhaps it was because the Eucalypts were healthy and abundant..But I think it was mainly because the concret memorial was unkempt, pockmarked ... to many, it would be a travesty that it be so- but it IS within a war zone. It IS in memory of a war and those who fought.  It had a very real, very strong emotionally charged feel- Our boys fought on this very soil... And I'm standing on it.

We hope to head to Be'er Sheva at the end of this week or beginning of next week, as well as to the British WW1 cemetary in Jerusalem.  This country has some amazing sights, and since both Biblical history and Australian mitliary history interests us greatly, we are very much enjoying our trip.  I shall keep you updated into the future.