ANZAC Day

Wednesday 25 April 2012

ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. On ANZAC day, ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the nation to acknowledge the service of our veterans. In Canberra, the Memorial, in close cooperation with RSL ACT, hosts the Dawn Service and the National ANZAC Day Ceremony. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commemorative Ceremony will be held after the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Aboriginal Memorial plaque on the side of Mount Ainslie.

History and tradition

ANZAC Day tradition: what do we commemorate and how?
First World War: an overview of Australia's involvement in the First World War

Ceremonies

Other ceremonies in Australia and around the world Department of Veterans' Affairs website

Photographs of ANZAC Day ceremonies in Canberra

2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

Speeches

National Ceremony address, 2011: delivered by Les Carlyon
Dawn Service address, 2011: delivered by Chaplain Mark Willis
National Ceremony address, 2010: delivered by the Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister of Australia
National Ceremony address, 2009: delivered by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Dawn Service address, 2009: delivered by Chaplain Collin Action, RAN
National Ceremony address, 2008:delivered by the Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, Prime Minister of Australia
National Ceremony address, 2006: delivered by Bill Crews, National President, RSL
Dawn Service address, 2005: delivered by Dr Tom Frame, Anglican Bishop to the Defence Force
National Ceremony address, 2005: delivered by Her Excellency Mrs Kate Lackey, New Zealand High Commissioner
Dawn Service address, 2001: delivered by Chaplain Pauline Law, Principal Chaplain, Royal New Zealand Navy

Sound

Education resources

Their spirit, our history: classroom activities and an outline for planning your own commemorative ceremony
Activities for students
Dawn of the Legend tells the story of the landing at Gallipoli. It includes pictures and maps
Mapping Gallipoli: fifteen maps from Gallipoli and their stories
Suggestions for further reading on ANZAC Day and Simpson and his donkey