ANZAC Day is commemorated on the 25th of April each year, and is one of the most important days on the Australian calendar. This special day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War (WW1).

ANZAC, which stands fo Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, is the day that the ANZAC legend began when, in 1915, Australian & New Zealand soldiers who set out on a joint expedition to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to ensure allied navies could access the Black Sea. 

The Australia and New Zealand Governments' planned to capture Constantinople (now known as Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany. 

The ANZAC soldiers landed in Gallipoli at dawn on the 25th of April. Upon arrival, the soldiers met fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders and the campaign lasted for eight months.

Each year we commemorate this day around Australia. In the Clarence Valley the Commemorations are held in numerous places. Please see the tab below for all of the places and times that the services are held.

It was recently agreed to by RSL NSW and it's couterparts both at State and Federal levels that a day to Commemorate those who served and were lost in the Middle East Operations.

We are proud to conduct this day in the Clarence Valley and thius will be held for the first time in Grafton this year.

Some background on this Commemoration.

In response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, Australian military personnel and civilian staff from various agencies took part in campaigns across the Middle East Area of Operations between 2001 and 2021.

 On 11 July 2021, the Minister for Defence confirmed all Australian Defence Force personnel had departed Afghanistan, bringing our nation’s longest war to a close.

 Australia’s participation came at a terrible cost. Forty-one lives were lost in Afghanistan and two lives were lost in Iraq and Kuwait, while many returned with long-lasting physical and mental trauma. Their service and sacrifice have helped to save Australian lives from terrorist attacks on our own soil.

 Join us for the inaugural commemoration service as we honour the service and sacrifice of our service personnel.

On 18 August, we commemorate Vietnam Veterans' Day on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. We remember the sacrifices of those who died and say thank you to almost 60,000 Australians who served during the 10 years of our involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War was Australia's longest military engagement of the 20th Century.

The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in South Vietnam during July and August 1962 marked the start of Australia’s involvement in the war.

By the time the war ended, almost 60,000 Australians served during a decade of conflict between 1962 and 1972. About 3,000 Australians were wounded during the war, and 524 died during their service in Vietnam or as a result of that service.

On Vietnam Veterans' Day, we pause and reflect on the bravery, teamwork and endurance that Australians displayed throughout the war.

We honour those veterans who:

lost their lives during battle

returned home wounded, ill or injured

lost their lives in the years since they returned

still carry the physical and emotional scars of their service

We also pause to reflect on the impact of service on veterans' families.

Services are held 

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a minutes silence is observed and dedicated to those soldiers who fought and died to protect our Nation.

At 11am on 11 November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender.

The conflict had mobilised over 70 million people, left between 9 and 13 million dead, and as many as one third of these with no grave.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month attained a special significance in the post-war years. It became universally associated with the remembrance of those who had died in the war.

Formally known as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day was renamed after WWII to commemorate those who were lost in both World Wars. Today it is a day where all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice serving our Country are Remembered.

Lest We Forget

Services are held both at Memorial Park in Grafton, and at the Cenotaph at Boulavard Rd South Grafton at 1100.

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