By Mike CrooksMonday 22 Apr 2024NewsReading Time: 4 minutes
As one former Australian soldier put it, ANZAC Day acknowledges the ultimate sacrifice made for peace and liberty by so many servicemen and women across two nations.
Key points
- Built in the 1920s, the Cenotaph (Greek for “empty tomb”) is one of Sydney’s oldest World War I monuments.
- More than 600 commemorative events scheduled to take place across NSW.
- To find a dawn service in your area, visit RSL NSW.
This year ANZAC Day – April 25 – falls on a Thursday with Dawn Services taking place throughout Australia and New Zealand.
“ANZAC Day should be about remembering our fallen service personnel, all of them,” Ken Zulumovski, an Aboriginal man who served in the Royal Australian Artillery Corps, told a City of Sydney newsletter last year.
“The diggers I talk to make one thing very clear from the outset – their bond for one another is unbreakable, their loyalty to their nation and communities unwavering, and they fight for what is right.”
Service & March
In the Sydney CBD, the ANZAC Day Dawn Service will be held at 4.20AM at the Cenotaph, Martin Place, Sydney.
Built in the 1920s, the Cenotaph (Greek for “empty tomb”) is one of Sydney’s oldest World War I monuments and is located near where the Martin Place Christmas Tree stands in the festive season.
The service is followed by the ANZAC Day March, which moves along Elizabeth Street from 9AM.
Built in the 1920s, the Cenotaph (Greek for “empty tomb”) is one of Sydney’s oldest World War I monuments.
The public is invited to attend and watch both the service and march in person. However, the Dawn Service will be broadcast live across all free-to-air television networks.
The Sydney March will be broadcast live on the ABC (and later available on iView).
Commemoration Service
From 12.30PM, the ANZAC Day Commemoration Service takes place at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park.
The public service will be attended by Premier Chris Minns and the Governor Margaret Beazley.
Sunset Service
Also at the Cenotaph is the ANZAC Day Sunset Service at 5PM.
This ceremony brings Sydney’s ANZAC Day Commemorations to a conclusion.
The short service involves the lowering of the flags and includes music by the NSW Ambulance Service Band.
It is open to the public.
Gallipoli service
ANZAC Day’s most reverential and solemn service takes place in Gallipoli, Türkiye (Turkey).
This is the site of where more than 10,000 ANZACs lost their lives in World War I. (In total, more than 130,000 people were killed there on both sides of the battle.)
The Dawn Service commences at 5:30AM local time and can be seen live on all TV networks.
Other services
According to the NSW Returned and Service’s League (RSL) there are more than 600 commemorative events scheduled to take place across NSW.
“Getting involved in ANZAC Day is an opportunity for all Australians to come together, honour the sacrifice of our service men and women, and show support for our current and past members of the armed forces,” the RSL said in a statement.
More than 600 commemorative events scheduled to take place across NSW.
From Coogee in the east, to Rooty Hill in the west, there are Dawn Services throughout Sydney. To find a service in your area, visit RSL NSW.
Service traditions
All services are accompanied by the Last Post’s bugle call and the Ode of Remembrance:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them.
The Ode is the fourth stanza of poet and playwright Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen, which was published in the UK’s Times during World War I.
ANZAC Cup
Many traditions come with ANZAC Day, including ANZAC biscuits and Two-Up. But there’s also the Tag20 ANZAC Cup in Goulburn, NSW.
Inspired by the camaraderie of Australia and New Zealand troops, the Tag20 ANZAC Cup is a friendly competitive sport (similar to touch rugby) between the two ANZAC nations.
To find a service in your area, visit RSL NSW.
Over one weekend, 18 teams compete in a best-of-five-test series.
It takes place at Goulburn’s Carr Confoy Oval from April 20.
Visit here for more information.
History
As noted by the RSL, ANZAC Day was created to honour those who served and gave their lives in World War I. Since then, it has become a day to honour troops from all conflicts.
“ANZAC Day has evolved into a day of remembrance for all who have served and sacrificed their lives in conflicts that Australia has participated in,” an RSL statement read.
“Our ANZAC Day message aims to connect all Australians to the ANZAC Spirit and encourages everyone to participate and pay their respects in their own unique way.”
For more information visit here.
Feature image: Photo by CanvaPro