What day of the week is Anzac Day this year? Where is a dawn service or parade near me?
Australians around the country will tomorrow pause to reflect on Anzac Day and commemorate the work of those in the defence forces.
The day will also bring with it a second long weekend for much of the country, and public holiday hours for shopping, businesses and services.
Here's what you need to know about one of the most solemn days on Australia's calendar.
How is Anzac Day commemorated?
There are many traditions associated with the day, but the two key events are a memorial service at dawn and a march later in the day.
Dawn services are symbolic of the time Anzac forces originally landed on the shores of Gallipoli.
These ceremonies typically involve the laying of floral wreaths, a moment of silence and a rendition of The Last Post — which is played on a bugle.
If you do go to a dawn service, you may want to stick around for a feed — called a gunfire breakfast — afterwards.
Usually this will be held by the Returned Services League (RSL) sub-branch as a fundraiser, so have some cash on you.
"A gunfire breakfast typically involves rum-laced coffee or tea, hot food such as bacon and eggs, and is a chance for veterans – and often other community members – to enjoy shared camaraderie," the RSL website says.
"The custom stems from 'gunfire' [which is] a mix of rum and black tea dating back to at least the 1890s.
"It was made by British Army soldiers – likely as a warming dash of morale or liquid courage ahead of the day's battle – and later adopted by Australian and New Zealand forces."
Later in the day, former and current military personnel and family representatives march in a parade and gather with the public for a formal memorial service.
Anyone can go to the public services, which are typically held in central areas.
You'll hear the phrase "Lest we forget" said quite often.
The phrase is uttered in response to the Ode, which is typically read out at every Anzac Day service.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The speaker will then say "Lest we forget", which is then be repeated by the crowd.
The Ode is actually the fourth stanza of a longer poem by Laurence Binyon called For the Fallen.
How can I find an Anzac Day service near me?
The easiest way is to check out the Returned Services League's (RSL) website.
Select your state or territory on the map then, once prompted, enter your postcode or suburb.
The website should show you a list of services in locations near you.
If you're unable to make it there in person, the ABC always broadcasts a service, which you'll be able to watch free-to-air on ABC TV or on ABC iview.
Why is Anzac Day on April 25?
It's the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand armed forces during World War I.
On April 25, 1915, the soldiers landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula, in what was then known as Turkey (which is now officially known as Türkiye).
More than 8,000 Australian soldiers died during the campaign and the military operation had a profound impact on Australians at home.
Why is Anzac Day a public holiday?
It's our national day for honouring people who fought for and aided Australia's armed forces.
You could liken it to America's Veterans Day or Armed Forces Day in the UK.
While the day is the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing in 1915, it's been broadened out to commemorate the efforts of any Australian in any military action.
So it's not just about people involved in the Gallipoli landing or even World War I, but every military effort.
This year, it falls on a Friday.
Friday will be a public holiday for every state and territory, meaning many people will be have a long weekend.
That's not always the case, however.
If Anzac Day is on a weekday, all states and territories have a public holiday on April 25.
But if it falls on a weekend, some jurisdictions will have a public holiday on the following Monday, but others won't.
When Anzac Day fell on a Sunday in 2021, for example, most jurisdictions had the Monday off — except NSW, Victoria and Tasmania didn't.
The dawn service is a solemn and moving way to mark Anzac Day. ( ABC News: Andrew O'Connor )
What does ANZAC stand for?
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
This was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand soldiers grouped together in Egypt before heading to Türkiye to land in Gallipoli.
What shops are open on Anzac Day? What are the opening hours?
While many shops are typically open on other public holidays, Anzac Day might be a bit different depending where you live.
Here's a state-by-state breakdown of Anzac Day trading hours.
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As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. 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As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob.
