ON April 25, Australians will gather once again at dawn services, community halls, local cenotaphs, and RSL clubs across Redlands and the Bayside to mark Anzac Day – a solemn tradition that endures through generations.
In Queensland, more than 400 events are planned – a testament to the deep respect we continue to hold for those who have served, and those who still do.
This year, with Anzac Day falling shortly after the Easter break, many will be enjoying time away with family.
But wherever we find ourselves tomorrow, we are called to pause, reflect, and honour the sacrifice that shaped our nation.
Anzac Day commemorates the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli in 1915 – a campaign that forged a national identity steeped in courage, resilience, and mateship.
But it has long since come to symbolise much more than a single military engagement.
It is a day to remember all who have served in war, conflict, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions – those who gave their lives, and those who came home changed.
It is also a day for veterans to reconnect, and for communities to come together in shared remembrance.
As Major General Stephen Day, State President of RSL Queensland, said: “Anzac Day reminds us of the sacrifices made by our service members to safeguard the freedoms we enjoy.”
There’s something uniquely unifying about Anzac Day.
In an increasingly fast-paced and fragmented world, it offers a moment of stillness – a time to gather, side by side, in quiet gratitude.
Young children clutching rosemary sprigs.
Old diggers with medals pinned to jackets.
Teenagers reciting poems they’ve learned by heart.
These simple acts of remembrance matter.
Because when we honour the Anzac spirit, we reaffirm the values it stands for –courage, loyalty, service, and sacrifice.
We show our veterans, current serving members, and their families that we see them, that we value them, and that their stories are woven into the fabric of our national identity.
So, whether you’re at home or on holiday, we urge you to find your local service.
Rise early. Stand silently in the pre-dawn chill.
Lay a wreath. Attend a parade. Listen to the Last Post.
Because this is how we keep the Anzac spirit alive – not just through ceremony, but through presence.
Lest we forget.
