Queenslanders have gathered in their thousands across the state to pause and reflect on the contributions of defence personnel and their sacrifices for Australia.
Veterans, families and civilians lined Brisbane city’s streets for the Anzac Day parade with a Royal Australian Air Force EA-18G Growler jet roaring overhead at the start of the march.
Governor Jeanette Young spoke of the choice of service and contributions of those in Australia’s armed forces, then Major General Stephen Day delivered the Ode before the parade began.
“It speaks to how grateful Queenslanders are to those who serve our country and also how the spirit of ANZAC really brings our community together,” he told AAP.
Onlookers stood in silence with their heads bowed as the Last Post echoed around the city’s walls.
While former and current defence personnel marched down Adelaide Street, Queensland Police Service’s pipes and drums were nearly drowned out as the Growler flew above to cheers and applause from the crowd waving Australian flags.
Earlier, surf boats performed a burial at sea ceremony, scattering the ashes of service personnel who had died in the past year, as thousands paid their respects at the Currumbin dawn service.
Atop Elephant Rock, flags were at half mast to recognise the contributions of nearly 1.5 million Australians who have served and fought for the country.
Michael Humphreys from the Currumbin Returned and Services League said while remembering those who serve and have served, the message this year was about the trials experienced by modern service people.
“I did shift the emphasis more to not what happened in war but what happens to our people who prepare for war,” he told AAP.
At the Brisbane city dawn service attended by up to 15,000 people, Mr. Young laid a wreath commemorating the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who at dawn 109 years ago, landed on the shores of Gallipoli.
Maj Gen Day said April 25 marks a solemn moment of reflection for those who gave freely of themselves for their country.
“So that their families, their mates and their mates’ families can live in a land that was free and fair,” he told AAP.
Maj Gen Day, the state president for RSL Queensland, said there will be over 450 events hosted by RSLs across the state on April 25—an increase of four per cent from 2023.
One particular event will commemorate a game of cricket played on the Shell Green by the Anzacs on the Gallipoli Peninsula that sought to distract the Turks from the imminent departure of allied troops.
The Shell Green match is held between the army and the Lord Mayor’s 11.
Maj Gen Day said the defence community was incredibly grateful for continued support of the nation’s veterans on what can be a challenging day for current and former service men and women.
“War transports you to the darkest corner of human activity. You see and will be involved in unspeakably difficult events,” he said.
“When you’ve been involved in the killing of other humans, your soul takes on a black stain, which might fade, but it never goes.
“Anzac Day reminds us of those who have been to war, have those experiences and think of those we’ve lost.
“They say that soldiers die twice; once when you’re physically killed and then again if people stop saying your name.”
