History Of Anzac Day

Be sure to mark ANZAC Day – 25th April 2013 – in your calendar. It’s an important day to Aussies and Kiwis alike, commemorating the anniversary of the first major military action taken by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) in the First World War.

For those who are unfamiliar with ANZAC Day, the tradition celebrates the bravery, endurance and sacrifice of those men who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula (Turkey) on 25th April 1915. Soldiers were faced with a powerful resistance which resulted in the campaign persevering for 8 months, taking the lives of 10,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and injuring over 25,000. April 25th was officially named ANZAC Day a year later in 1916.

To honour the occasion, traditional ceremonies and memorial services take place throughout Australia and New Zealand every year. Check out what events are happening in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

Sydney
In Sydney, the Dawn Service will be held at the Cenotaph in Martin Place. On either side of the war monument, the reverence for those lost is known through the promise engraved; the northern side states “To Our Glorious Dead” and “Lest We Forget” is stated on the southern side.

The ANZAC Parade starts at Driver’s Triangle and continues through to the border of Surrey Hills and Paddington, where the entrance for the Eastern Distributor is nearby. The name was given in tribute to the ANZACs, who marched to Sydney Harbour where they were transported. The parade concludes at La Perouse, New South Wales.

The old gambling game of ‘2-Up’ is traditionally played in pubs around Australia on ANZAC Day, the game involves a few coins tossed in the air by a selected ‘Spinner’ and participants wagering on how the coin lands.

Melbourne
The Melbourne Dawn service will be held at the Shrine Forecourt at 6am, guests are asked to assemble from 5.30am. Beginning the Commemorative Services at dawn is a tribute to military practice, when soldiers were called to ‘stand to’ at dawn in order to resist enemy attack; dawn and dusk was considered the most likely time for enemy attack.

The ANZAC Day March starts at approximately 9am and will carry on down St Kilda Road, concluding at the Shrine at 1pm for a Remembrance Service.

Perth
The Dawn Service begins at 5.30am and will take place at The State War Memorial located in Kings Park and Botanic Garden, overlooking The Swan River and City of Perth. The Memorial consists of a Flame of Remembrance within the Pool of Reflection, the Court of Contemplation and Cenotaph. In tribute to the fallen heroes, the area below the Cenotaph was renamed the ANZAC Bluff, as it closely resembles the site where the soldiers arrived in Gallipoli.

Brisbane
The Dawn memorial service is held in the same place each year at The Shrine of Remembrance, which is situated between Ann Street and Adelaide Street. The beautiful Greek style war memorial holds an Eternal Flame, on the day of the service wreaths are placed around it in memory of those lost during the war.

Brisbane’s Day Parade commences at 10am at the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets, and will finish at 1pm.

The Chalk Hotel will be constructing a huge 2-Up ring in their parking lot, so be prepared to hear “Come in Spinner” all afternoon.

Check out Anzac Day at The Robert Burns Hotel, Melbourne or DJ Chronic at the Epsy, Melbourne