Australians old and young are waking up at the crack of dawn to honour Anzac soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
Dawn services are set to take place around the nation to commemorate Anzac Day while 3000 km north of Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finished the Kokoda Track in solidarity with his Papua New Guinean counterpart.
Albanese, who will make a speech at a dawn service at Kokoda, honoured the sacrifice of those who served along the mountainous trail, as well as those who served in other conflicts.
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“Anzac Day has never asked us to exalt in the glories of war. Anzac Day asks us to stand against the erosion of time and to hold on to their names, to hold on to their deeds,” he will say.
“We come in gratitude, we come in sorrow. A pilgrimage of memory as we keep the long vigil of a grateful nation.”
This year marks the 82nd anniversary of the Kokoda campaign, which is etched into the memories of Australian and PNG veterans.
Albanese hiked parts of the Kokoda Track where 625 people were killed and more than a thousand wounded during the World War II campaign.
Thursday marks the 109th anniversary of the landings on April 25, 1915 in Gallipoli, Turkey, where Defence Minister Richard Marles is attending local ceremonies.
“When we think about the Gallipoli campaign, we think of mateship and sacrifice, and we admire the extraordinary actions of the Anzac soldiers,” Marles said.
“We acknowledge the 1500 Australian defence personnel who are currently deployed on operations and honour the memory of the more than 103,000 Australians who gave their life in service of our country.”
The Returned Services League has encouraged Australians to honour the nation’s veterans and defence personnel.
RSL national president Greg Melick branded it a sombre day and pledged to remember those who have served and died in the line of duty.
“On April 25 we will remember them, lest we forget,” he said.
The landings marked the first major battle Australian and New Zealand soldiers faced in World War I.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the campaign at Gallipoli had forged a new beginning for Australia.
“In war’s conflagration, Australians carved out a national character. In war’s devastation, Australians discovered a national identity,” he said.
“Just as the Anzac spirit shaped our national soul, our national soul sustained the Anzac spirit.”
Liberal MP Phil Thompson, a former soldier who was appointed Anzac of the Year in 2016, said the day of reflection withstood all the current global tensions.
While service personnel and the community got together at pubs and enjoyed the game of two up each year, it was important to acknowledge those who had died while enjoying the day with mates, Thompson said.
“When I’m at the RSL or pub I buy two beers, one for myself and one for my mates who paid the ultimate sacrifice and that sits on the table and they have a seat,” he told AAP.
“When you’re out and laughing and having fun and you’re with your mates, you’re still remembering and reflecting.
“They would want that.”
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