This Anzac Day will mark 107 years since the 1915 Gallipoli landings – a day that recognises and allows us to commemorate the sacrifices of our servicemen and women in the First World War and every conflict Australia has participated in since.
War memorials can be found in 4 locations in the City of Boroondara, and at least 3 are set to host dawn services this Anzac Day.
- This year’s dawn service at the Surrey Gardens Shrine and Cross will be the seventh coordinated by the Surrey Hills and Mont Albert Progress Association. It first organised a dawn service in the gardens to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landings, and with the exception of 2020, it has continued each year since. Local schoolchildren play a central role in the service, highlighting the stories of individual local servicemen and women across the years. This year their focus will be on ‘perspectives from the home front’. Joint Boroondara Young Citizen of the Year Belinda Battey will lead the service, and attendees are asked to assemble at 5:45am for a 6am start.
- Hawthorn RSL will host an Anzac Day dawn service at 5:45 am at the Hawthorn War Memorial in St James Park. Its 2021 Anzac Day service was attended by veterans of every conflict Australia has taken part in, from the Second World War to today.
- Kew RSL will host 2 Anzac events this year. They include a march and commemoration ceremony on Sunday 24 April and a dawn service on Anzac Day. To take part in the 24 April march, assemble at the Kew RSL sub-branch at 63 Cotham Road, Kew, at 1pm for a 1:15pm step-off towards Kew Cenotaph at the corner of High Street and Cotham Road. This will be followed by a 2pm service at Holy Trinity Church at 251 High Street. For the 25 April dawn service at Kew RSL, assemble at 5:45am for a 6am start.
All community members are welcome at all the events listed above. All events will be COVID-safe and follow any government directions that are in place at the time.
To find out more and for updates on each service, visit the Surrey Hills Progress Facebook page or the Hawthorn RSL Facebook page, or email Kew RSL at [email protected]
