5 best Aussie destinations to observe ANZAC Day
It’s one of our most significant national days and there are plenty of places to pay your respects.
1. National War Memorial, Canberra
More than 50,000 people gather for the dawn service at the national service in Canberra. From 4.30am, excerpts from letters and diaries of soldiers are read aloud before the ceremony begins at sunrise. For the two days leading up to the 25th, images of Australian servicemen and women from the archives will be projected onto the walls of the building.
Thousands of people gather in Martin Place to honour fallen soldiers.
2. Martin Place, Sydney
2017 marks the 101st anniversary of Anzac Day commemorations in Sydney and the ceremony begins at dawn at the Cenotaph in Martin Place. It will include a playing of the Last Post, an Ode of Remembrance, a minute’s silence and the laying of wreaths on the statue. The service is followed by the official Anzac Day March through the city at 9am and tens of thousands of people line the streets to cheer them on.
3. Darwin Cenotaph
As the only city on the Australian mainland ever to have been attacked during wartime, Anzac Day services in Darwin carry a special meaning. The dawn service is held overlooking the harbour that was bombed by the Japanese in World War II, causing hundreds of fatalities. An official Anzac church service is held at St Mary’s Cathedral from 7.30am.
Collingwood and Essendon players line up before the start of their ANZAC Day clash.
4. MCG, Melbourne
The Anzac Day Clash is an annual AFL match played between Collingwood and Essendon and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was first played in 1995 and is now the biggest match of the season outside of the finals, with tickets selling out well in advance. A special Anzac service is held at the stadium before the match starts, and both the players and crowd consider the game to be a mark of respect for the armed forces who have fought to preserve the Australian way of life.
5. Torrens Parade Ground, Adelaide
Two Up is synonymous with Anzac Day, so don’t miss your chance to have a punt. This coin toss game is illegal for the rest of the year, but today every pub buzzes with it. The Torrens Parade Ground is an historic military site and two up is played in the Drill Hall from lunchtime, with games hosted by local RSL members. But be careful – it can be very easy to lose a lot of money in a short time.
Have you been to any of these events?