ANZAC Day is a significant event marked in the calendars of many people across not only Australia and New Zealand but across the commonwealth. For some, ANZAC day is a great way to get a day off school or work and enjoy a break. But for both past and present members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), families of veterans and the public, this sacred day is a symbol of thanks and remembrance for the brave ANZAC soldiers that landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula all those years ago. 

Now, 107 years on, tens of thousands of Australians and New Zealanders alike commemorated ANZAC day through marches, dawn services and other events to show thanks and remembrance, for not only the ANZAC’s, but all ADF personnel who have protected our great country.  

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, large scale ANZAC commemorations were not able to proceed as usual, with neighbourhoods holding dawn-services on their driveways to show respect and desire to uphold Australian tradition. This year, with eased COVID restrictions, full scale commemorations could take place across the country with notable events occurring in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Darwin. 

Focusing on Sydney, Dawn Services occurred in all suburbs and regions of the city, with services from far Western Sydney in Penrith all the way to services in Bondi and Coogee. There were multiple services in the Hills Shire Council with one occurring at Centenary of ANZAC Reserve. It was great to see multiple students from William Clarke College getting involved in the service by paying respects, laying wreaths as well as one impressive student giving a great speech to the attendees. 

William Clarke College also held a full school ANZAC service on Wednesday the 27th of April. This service involved cadets from both the AAFC and the Australian Army, two active ADF personnel, the college captains, and the college orchestra. This service was a great way for the William Clarke College community to remember together the sacrifices that these brave men and women made to this great country that we live in now. 

Personally, with my involvement in the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) I have been able to attend many diverse events like the Queen’s Birthday Parade at Government House, Bivouacs, ANZAC Day Dawn services among other things. But the most high-profile and emotionally moving event that I was most honoured to be a part was being selected to march in the Sydney ANZAC Day March 2022 with the Australian National Flag Contingent. 

The Flag contingent contained of approximately 180 AAFC cadets who held one Australian flag each whilst marching in a flight through the ANZAC Day March route. The Flag Contingent led of the ‘Australian’ section of the march with only the New Zealand sections in front of us. It was truly an honour to be a part of this amazing experience and to march in the same parade as some of our nations most celebrated and heroic heroes both on and off the battlefield.  

ANZAC day is one of the most sacred days on the Australian calendar, and it is important that it is further commemorated for many years to come to pay respects and give our thanks to all ADF members both past and present.