For Paul Randall and his family, there are many levels to their pride on Anzac Day.
It’s a reflection on their ties to the Air Force, and the annual Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood provides a very personal stage for their remembrance, with Paul a diehard Bombers fan from a young age.
Last Friday, he had the opportunity to bring his three kids along to the NEC Hangar for a unique meet-and-greet opportunity with the Dons playing list ahead of Anzac Day – alongside a bunch of other families with members actively or formerly of service.
We spoke to Paul about his Essendon upbringing, his family’s service and the strong sense of community he feels when April 25th rolls around year-on-year.
Randall on… the experience at the Club
It's great, mate. I've barracked for Essendon since I was born back in 1986.
I got to see the 1993 and 2000 Grand Finals and then to bring my three young kids here, it's an opportunity that we're very lucky to have, so they're very happy.
Opportunities like this – I mean, we only moved to Melbourne in December – we just jumped at it straight away.
My daughter absolutely loves Isaac Kako. Jeez, she just loves him.
My middle boy is a massive two-metre Peter fan, and then my oldest, he can't pick one player. He’ll always run off a bunch of names, he loves Ridley, Caddy and McGrath.
They’re pretty pumped to see them all today.
Randall on… family ties, his attachment to Anzac Day
My dad served 20 years in the Air Force, and I'm currently 23 years into my career.
I’ve served four tours to the Middle East. I was stationed over in the U.S. for four years, Malaysia for three years, so I’ve been all over the world.
Anzac Day means a lot to us. It’s a sombre day, it's a day of remembrance and a day full of emotions, both up and down. To share it with my kids on days like this, it just means a heap to us.
It’s just about the passion for us, so much passion.
I've been to one Anzac Day game back as a child and I’ll never forget it. Now living down in Melbourne, hopefully for at least a couple of years I’ll get the opportunity to take the kids down.
The atmosphere, that crowd, the emotion on both sides, both fanbases, it's just something you'll never forget and I want that experience for them too.
