Anzac Day is marked across Australia as crowds return to public dawn ceremonies

Anzac Day is marked across Australia as crowds return to public dawn ceremonies

37 minutes ago

Army veteran John Murphy at this morning's service at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article

Dawn ceremonies across the country have honored the men and women who died in armed conflict while serving Australia.

This year's Anzac Day services are the first in three years to welcome the general public after the COVID-19 pandemic heavily disrupted the 2020 and 2021 commemorations.

It was 107 years ago today that Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed on Turkey's Gallipoli Peninsula during World War I.

The Anzacs were defeated after eight months, suffering mass casualties and great hardships.

But their bravery has become an enduring symbol of military sacrifice.

Leading Aircraftman Tarryn Roach opens the dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.(ABC News)

This year also marks the 80th anniversary of pivotal events for Australia during World War II, including the bombing of Darwin, the fall of Singapore, and the Kokoda Track campaign against Japanese forces in Papua.

At the Australian War Memorial in Canberra this morning, the navy's archdeacon, Andrew Lewis, reflected on the original Anzacs' legacy.

He urged Australians to learn from their commitment to each other and willingness to sacrifice.

"Let us dedicate ourselves to the services of the ideals for which they died," he said.

"Let us give our utmost to make the world what they would have wished it to be: a better and happier place for all its people, through whatever means are open to us."

An estimated crowd of 18,200 attended the early ceremony in Canberra.

The Sydney ceremony began at 4:30am, the time Anzac troops landed at Gallipoli.(AAP: Bianca De Marchi)

The day's first national event was at Sydney's Martin Place Cenotaph at 4:30am — the time Anzac troops landed at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

The RSL's New South Wales president, navy veteran Ray James, said "enormous crowds" had turned up at the pre-dawn service despite wet weather.

"The last few years have been really hard with COVID-19," he said.

"I'm really delighted to see the enormous crowds that have shown up today. The whole Martin Place is just packed."

Cabravale in western Sydney hosts one of many suburban ceremonies across the country.(ABC News: Jake Lapham)

At Cabravale Memorial Park in southwest Sydney, current and former military personnel were joined by family and friends as they marched just before 6am.

In Melbourne, about 50,000 people embraced the opportunity to gather at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne at dawn.

The state's Governor, Linda Dessau, said Anzac Day still affected generations of Victorians.

A boy listens to the service at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

"The Shrine of Remembrance is the living soul of Melbourne, and this soul will remain alive — this eternal flame will keep burning — as long as we keep returning and remembering," Ms. Dessau said.

"We cannot change the past. We cannot bring back those lost to the traumas of conflict. We can only support those who did return. We can only honour and remember those who did not.

Poppies are laid at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.(ABC News: Danielle Bodice)

"That is the purpose of this place of pilgrimage, this Shrine of Remembrance, this part of the home that never forgets those who served."

A navy servicewoman at the Darwin dawn service.(ABC News: Matt Roberts)