ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day is the anniversary of the landing of troops from Australia and New Zealand on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, in World War I on April 25, 1915. Anzac Day has been commemorated in Australia since 1918 in Brisbane; on this Anzac Day of 2020 – in this time of pandemic, we will “Light the dawn“!
This year we must find new ways to pay tribute. This year at 6am, stand in your driveway, on your balcony or in your living room holding a candle or torch, united in spirit to remember all those who have served and sacrificed for the lifestyle we enjoy today.
An estimated one thousand Aboriginal people volunteered to enlist in World War One despite not being recognised as Australian citizens at that time. In recent years the contribution of Aboriginal servicemen and women has begun to be acknowledged. For a brief history of Indigenous Australians at War click here. A Victorian Indigenous Remembrance Service is held each year on 31 May at 11am at the Shrine of Remembrance. This Service was initiated by Aunty Dot Peters, a Wurundjeri Elder, who wanted to recognise the service of her father, who died on the Burma Railway, and to commemorate the service of all those Aboriginal service men and women who have served in the Australian Defence Force.
Sikh’s have been in Australia for nearly 200 years and at least 19 Sikh’s enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in World War One and continue to serve proudly in the Australian Defence Force today. Download the brochure Sikh Anzacs. The Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria is active in interfaith events. For further information about Sikh’s in Australia go to their website: http://www.sikhinterfaithvic.org.au/sikhsinoz.html.
The story of Chinese Anzacs is often overlooked in the greater narratives of World War One. When war was declared, Australia issued a call to arms. The Chinese-Australian community rallied behind the war efforts. “If Australia is good enough to live in, it is good enough to fight for” – Benjamin Moy Ling (Chinese Anzac). Over two hundred Australians of Chinese descent enlisted. One hundred and seven of these were from Victoria. Of those Chinese Australians who fought, forty-one died. Click here to watch the Chinese Anzac documentary.
Commemorations in Shepparton, ANZAC DAY 2020
Traditionally, ANZAC Day is a day when we all come together in remembrance. Buthis year we’ll have to come together in spirit, instead of in person.
Here’s how you can help to keep the ANZAC spirit alive and honour our veterans and service members from your own home.
5.30am – 6.10am
ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE
Australian War Memorial in Canberra
Televised on the ABC & broadcast on ABC Radio
5.50am – 6.20am
ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE
Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne
Televised on Channel 9 & the latter part will be broadcast on
ABC Radio at the conclusion of the Canberra service.
7am – 7.20am
SHEPPARTON SUB BRANCH COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE
Broadcast on 98.5 One FM (after the news)
and screened online via www.sheppnews.com.au or their
This special service includes a speech by well-known local veteran Graeme Bayley who shares stories from his own family’s 3 generations of service.
We would like to thank the Shepparton News for helping us (Shepparton RSL sub-branch) to produce this special local service for our members and the greater community.
“STAND TO” AT HOME
RSL Victoria encourages you to stand at the end of your driveway just before 6am to observe a minute’s silence. There has been a lot of publicity about doing this and we believe it to be a great way to show our united respect on such an important day.
For more details, please
ANZAC APPEAL 2020
This year’s ANZAC Appeal has gone digital! To make a donation, please visit
Indigenous Australian Soldiers
The Khalsa symbol on the lower right front of this image – indicating the soldiers are Sikhs
Image from the Gurkha Museum depicting soldiers at Gallipoli
| asato mā sadgamaya | From the unreal, lead us to the real; |
| tamasomā jyotir gamaya | From darkness, lead us to light; |
| mrityormā amritam gamaya | From death, lead us to immortality |
| Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ | Om peace, peace, peace |
Indigenous Australian Soldiers
The Khalsa symbol on the lower right front of this image – indicating the soldiers are Sikhs
Image from the Gurkha Museum depicting soldiers at Gallipoli
| asato mā sadgamaya | From the unreal, lead us to the real; |
| tamasomā jyotir gamaya | From darkness, lead us to light; |
| mrityormā amritam gamaya | From death, lead us to immortality |
| Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥ | Om peace, peace, peace |
