ANZAC DAY 2016
22nd April, 2016
Anzac Day is a special opportunity to honour the contribution of all defence personnel who have served our country, and to ensure that their service is never forgotten. We owe an enormous debt to these Australians, whose qualities of courage, determination and camaraderie have become part of our way of life. We remember with gratitude the sacrifices made by our first Anzacs and by our current Australian Defence personnel who continue to make our country proud, risking their lives to undertake their duties in troubled nations around the world. Anzac Day commemorations help younger Australians to gain a greater appreciation of our wartime history and heritage, and the role war has played in shaping our nation and securing peace. I encourage all young Australians to understand the Anzac story and to ensure that it is passed through to future generations.
Last year’s Anzac Day marked the Centenary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli in 1915. This year will be the 100th anniversary of the first Anzac Day commemoration held in Brisbane on April 25, 1916.
This year, we recognise another significant moment in our wartime history, the centenary of Australia’s World War I involvement on the Western Front - France and Belgium. Australian troops arrived on the Western Front in March 1916, and participated in every major British offensive that led to Germany’s defeat in November 1918. Almost 300,000 Australians served on the Western Front, more than 46,000 lost their lives and about 18,000 were left with no known grave.
We remember particularly these men who lost their lives in service to their country. We remember the survivors of Gallipoli, many of whom went on to fight and die for their country along the Western front, in Fromelles, the Somme, Pozières, Bullecourt, Messines, Passchendaele, Le Hamel, Villers-Bretonneux and Mont St. Quentin. These places remain of great significance to many Australians today. Half of all the Australians ever killed in war died in France during World War I and II.
This Anzac Day I will be attending the Lighting of the Anzac Flame in Gympie on Sunday, the Dawn Service and Citizen Remembrance at Tewantin/Noosa and the mid-morning Parade and Service at the Memorial Park in Cooroy. I also plan to attend an afternoon barbeque at the Wolvi & District War Memorial Hall followed by a 7pm Anzac service. I encourage members of the community to join me in thanking our veterans, by attending local Anzac Day commemorations wherever they may be.
For more information about the Centenary of Anzac Day, including historical information and education resources, visit http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/
For a list of local Anzac Day services, contact your local Council or RSL branch.
