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Australians came together on Saturday to mark Anzac Day, attending dawn services and marches across the country to honour those who have served in the nation's defence forces. The commemorations mark the 111th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, a day of national remembrance that also honours the more than two million people who have served Australia since 1915.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage by ABC Australia spanned multiple events, from the official New South Wales Dawn Service at the Cenotaph in Sydney's Martin Place to the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, as well as services in Melbourne and Brisbane. Reports also included personal stories of serving members and veterans reflecting on the day's meaning.

Key Claims

At the Cenotaph in Sydney's CBD, thousands of people gathered to commemorate Anzac Day, with 11,000 attendees listening to prayer and sung hymns dedicated to the fallen. NSW Premier Chris Minns continued a long-standing tradition by reciting Elliott Napier's poem, Salute, before laying a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph. Other notable guests included Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane, City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Federal MP Tanya Plibersek, and state Governor Margaret Beazley.

The Sydney service was briefly disrupted just after 4:30am when Indigenous pastor Uncle Ray Minniecon, a former soldier who served with the 51st Battalion, was met with boos during his Welcome to Country address. Uncle Ray Minniecon later told the ABC he wanted the hecklers to understand "this always was and always will be Aboriginal land," adding, "They should show respect to us as Traditional Owners." Brigadier Vincent Williams, acting president of RSL NSW, called the booing "the most appalling act" he had ever seen at a dawn service. A man was later arrested by NSW Police over an alleged act of nuisance.

In Canberra, tens of thousands gathered before sunrise at the Australian War Memorial for the Dawn Service, which began with a didgeridoo performance by Wiradjuri man and Flight Lieutenant James Evans. Up to 35,000 people attended, according to the War Memorial, with wreaths laid by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand High Commissioner Andrew Needs. The commemorative address was delivered by Flying Officer Kbora Ali of the Royal Australian Air Force, who recounted her family's escape from Afghanistan and her father's rescue by Navy personnel. "I didn't see my father for many years — our family wasn't together much during my childhood," she said. "Now I am the one who is never home, my bags are always packed."

In Melbourne, a crowd gathered around the Eternal Flame at the Shrine of Remembrance, with about 50,000 people expected at the service, which had a special focus on honouring those who served in peacekeeping operations throughout the Middle East. In Brisbane, thousands made their way to Anzac Square in the CBD for the Dawn Service, one of the first in Australia to host such an event.

Personal stories highlighted the day's significance. Corporal Ryan Cripps, who served in Afghanistan as a combat medic, marched in Launceston, Tasmania, with a group of ex-army mates in honour of their former colleague Richard Atkinson. "We have all come back from all around Australia to pay our respects to Richard," he said. "It is to bring our kids and get them involved," he added, "We really want them to understand what it is about." Seventeen-year-old army cadet Catrina Maree Meldrum, who marched in the Darwin Dawn Service, said, "I believe that Anzac Day is a really big part of history."

The ABC provided comprehensive coverage of Anzac Day services and events across ABC Radio, ABC listen, ABC TV, ABC iview and online, including a broadcast of the Sydney march along Elizabeth Street at 9am.