Across Australia, thousands gathered on Tuesday to honour the nation’s fallen servicemen and women, marking 107 years since the Armistice that ended the First World War.
At 11am, the country fell silent for one minute – from the heart of Melbourne’s CBD to the illuminated sails of the Sydney Opera House – in remembrance of all who have served in war and peacekeeping missions.
In Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr led the national ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
“Every Remembrance Day, we carve this sacred moment out from the noise of the world to think of every Australian who has answered the call through the decades,” Mr Albanese said. “Although time passes, our duty to remember never does.”
In Brisbane, Princess Anne, on tour to mark the centenary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, laid a wreath at Gallipoli Barracks before meeting serving personnel and veterans. Similar commemorations took place in Anzac Square, where Premier David Crisafulli and Governor Jeanette Young joined more than 1,500 attendees for a minute’s silence.
In Sydney, poppies were projected onto the Opera House sails during a moving dawn service at Campbells Cove, accompanied by the Last Post. Greek and Cypriot Australian community members also took part in local ceremonies in Sydney, including Kyriakos Panayi, Secretary of the Cyprus Community of NSW, who laid a wreath at Martin Place on behalf of the community.
In Melbourne, traffic came to a standstill at eleven intersections as buglers played the Last Post. At the Shrine of Remembrance, Premier Jacinta Allan and Governor Professor Margaret Gardner joined dignitaries and veterans to pay tribute to more than 400,000 Victorians who have served.
