Anzac Day in NSW

ANZAC Day on April 25 is a commemoration and remembrance of all Australians who have served and died in war and on operational service around the world. It marks the landing in 1915 of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at Gallipoli, Turkey in World War I.

Despite the cancellations, there are still many ways you can commemorate this important day from home:

• Watch the Dawn Service live from the Australian National War Memorial in Canberra on the ABC from 5.30am. A service will also be broadcast from the Anzac Memorial in Sydney at 10am.
• Light up the dawn with the RSL. At 6am, stand at the end of your driveway, on your balcony or at your window and share a moment of silence in honour of the Anzacs. The RSL Anzac Spirit website and a number of radio stations will stream a commemorative service.
• Send an email to support members of the Australian Defence Force who are currently serving at supportthetroops@defence.gov.au
• Take a virtual walk around some of the Anzac battle sites in Gallipoli with the Anzac Walk Audio Tour.
• Learn about the experiences of Australians during wartime through the online collection at the Australian National War Memorial.
• Get the kids involved and bake Anzac biscuits, make poppies and learn about their significance, read some wartime poetry or listen to The Last Post.
• Listen to Music From The Home Front. This live concert starts at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and features Ben Lee, Birds of Tokyo, Delta Goodrem, Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, Paul Kelly, Vance Joy and more.
• Share your experiences or memories on social media using the hashtags #anzacathome and #anzacspirit

Find more information on the Anzac Portal website.

The ANZAC Day service

ANZAC Day was first conceived to commemorate those who served in the Gallipoli Campaign in WWI. However, the date has since become a day to commemorate all Australian and New Zealand troops who have served their country.  

In previous years there have been dawn services, wreath-laying, marches and commemoration services. However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year there will be a nationally televised commemorative service instead. This will be broadcast live across Australia on the ABC and online.

The service offers quiet contemplation, accompanied by the bugle call of the Last Post and The Ode of Remembrance, an excerpt from English poet Laurence Binyon's moving poem, For the Fallen, which was first published in The Times in 1914. The Ode is from the fourth stanza:

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.

Another time-honoured ANZAC Day tradition is to play the game two-up. Its association with the day originates from WWI, when Australians played two-up in the trenches and on troop ships. The game can be played at home with three or more participants.