Canberrans are invited to participate in local Anzac Day events across the Territory, including Light Up the Dawn, the Dawn Service, and the National Ceremony, to honour and commemorate Australian veterans.
Anzac Day will take many forms this year, providing opportunities for all Canberrans to take part – at home, on the street, and at the Australian War Memorial.
The Australian War Memorial will hold the Anzac Day Dawn Service and National Ceremony with COVID appropriate measures in place, approved by ACT Health. Last year, the traditional Dawn Service, National Ceremony, and veterans’ march did not take place due to COVID-19 restrictions. This year, 3,000 people will attend the Dawn Service, and 4,200 the National Ceremony. However, registrations are limited, and all tickets have already been allocated.
The public can take part in community-led commemorations across Canberra, through Light up the Dawn. Initiated in 2020 during lockdown, Canberrans are again encouraged to stand at the end of their driveways at dawn, with a candle and radio or app for a synchronised playing of The Last Post.
Royal Australian Navy veteran Grant Newham’s family was one of many Canberrans standing with a lit candle on the end of their driveway.
“It was so different to what we’d done in the past, but it turned out to be really special,” Mr Newham said. “Light Up the Dawn feels like a really inclusive and meaningful way to appreciate our past and present servicemen and women, which is why we’ve decided to participate again this year.”
ACT Assistant Minister for Seniors, Veterans, Families and Community Services, Emma Davidson, said that this year’s commemorations would see a combination of tradition and innovation so that the whole community could participate in Anzac Day.
“Many grassroots and community-led commemorations are taking place across the ACT, in addition to the Australian War Memorial Dawn Service,” Ms Davidson said. “The best way for everyone in our community to get involved is to participate in the Light Up the Dawn commemoration.
“Whether people are commemorating at home, on their driveway, listening to the bugling of a neighbour, or at the National Service, each of us will be recognising Anzac Day as a community.”
