Nat Barr tears up at Anzac Day ceremony over touching moment between veterans
Sunrise host Nat Barr confessed she had to fight back tears during a touching moment at the Anzac Day dawn service in Currumbin, Queensland.
Barr spoke of the touching moment two veterans put their arms around each other during the ceremony commemorating Australian veterans.
During the Hot Topics segment with reporters Steve Titmus and Amanda Abate on Sunrise, Barr recounted the emotional moment.
'If you watched the service this morning, and it will be repeated throughout the next couple of days, we all have a moment where we've teared up,' Barr said.
'Mine was when an elderly gentleman put an arm around another and you could tell he was crying because of the memories coming back. Those are the sort of things we need to teach our kids.' Nat Barr appeared on Sunrise on Friday, broadcasting from the Currumbin Anzac Day ceremony. Credit: Seven
Earlier in the segment, the trio discussed new research commissioned by Newspoll, which showed Gen Z Aussies have a lack of emotional connection to Anzac Day.
Gen Z Australians are typically defined as individuals born between 1997 and 2012.
In a survey of 1118 Aussies, 20 per cent admitted they don't value the contributions made by Australian veterans, while one in four don't feel a connection to Anzac Day.
The same research revealed almost a third of Aussies incorrectly believe veterans are exclusively those who served in combat, ignoring roles in areas like humanitarian aid and disaster recovery.
Barr questioned Titmus and Abate over the findings, prompting both to call for young people to be better educated about the contribution of the Anzacs. Nat Barr spoke of a touching moment at the Anzac Day ceremony. Credit: Seven
Both Barr and Titmus were surprised by the findings.
'I think it shows there is a decrease from the pride in our nation and there is a decrease in the lack of respect for what people have done in the past,' Titmus said.
'I think that is at the crux of it ... (But I think) it is great to see the AFL football and NBL are still having bumper days as far as Anzac Day is concerned.
'But really there is a lack of pride in our nation, which is dwindling and contributing to (it).'
Barr mentioned numbers at the commemoration services, adding she was under the impression that attendance and pride in Anzac Day was on the up. Journalists Steve Titmus and Amanda Abate joined Nat Barr for the Hot Topics segment during Sunrise's Anzac Day coverage. Credit: Seven
'I think we have a core group of people in the households at home. The parents still teaching the kids about our past and history ... Apart from that, it is dwindling.'
Barr then questioned Abate about the survey.
'Amanda, what do you think because the fact that people don't understand what a veteran is, that our services are involved in peacekeepers, even times there is a flood or fire, they are the people that come and save the day?' Barr asked.
'I think it is our job as parents to be instilling these lessons and stories into these children. I was explaining to my 4-year-old why I was waking early this morning,' Abate said.
'I thought this is a good time to tell him in an age-appropriate way why we get up early on Anzac Day, what the legacy is and the sacrifices that the men and women made for us to live a comfortable, free life.
'It is our duty to ensure the younger generations have a clear understanding of what they means.'
Barr suggested we start a program in schools as a way to help Australian Defence Force recruitment, so more people want to be involved.
'We've got a great opportunity. Let's run a great program through the schools, let's get the parents involved more ... They talk aboout the Anzacs at home,' Titmus said.
'One thing about the Anzacs is we get bombarded at this time of the year, which is fantastic. The rest of the year it tends to dwindle away.
'How about we promote Anzac Day and what it means 360 days of the year?'
Titmus said both his daughters would be attending Anzac Day ceremonies in Brisbane today.
'They (both) feel great respect and they believe that people who came before us and went to war are the major reason why today we can dare to dream and live in the best country in the world.'
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Host Cynthia Erivo, the Wicked film star, opened the show with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in Sunset Blvd. Cole Escola won the Tony for best lead actor in a play for his creation Oh, Mary! The show, Escola's reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln's life and relationship with husband Abraham Lincoln, blends historical satire with absurd camp. The show also earned Sam Pinkleton the Tony for best director of a play. Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for Yellow Face. He thanked the Asian American actors who came before him and addressed the next generation: "This community sees you and I hope that encourages you to be brave, and to dream and to dream big." 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Darren Criss won his first Tony for best leading actor in a musical for his role as the innocent Oliver, and its director Michael Arden won the award for best director of a musical. The modern reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic Sunset Blvd also won big, taking awards for best revival of a musical and for Nicole Scherzinger, who stars as the faded movie star Norma Desmond, won best actress in a musical. The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Purpose won the best play award. Written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the play follows a family whose carefully constructed legacy unravels when their youngest son returns home with an unexpected guest, exposing buried secrets and faith-based conflict. Host Cynthia Erivo, the Wicked film star, opened the show with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in Sunset Blvd. Cole Escola won the Tony for best lead actor in a play for his creation Oh, Mary! The show, Escola's reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln's life and relationship with husband Abraham Lincoln, blends historical satire with absurd camp. The show also earned Sam Pinkleton the Tony for best director of a play. Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for Yellow Face. He thanked the Asian American actors who came before him and addressed the next generation: "This community sees you and I hope that encourages you to be brave, and to dream and to dream big." Kara Young, who was nominated for a Tony in the role of featured actress in a play four years in a row, won for the second year in a row for her role in the 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Purpose. Natalie Venetia Belcon won the award for best featured actress in a musical for her role as Cuban singer Omara Portuondo in Buena Vista Social Club. Jak Malone won the award for best featured actor in a musical for Operation Mincemeat, a fast-paced World War Two spy farce based on a bizarre true British plot to trick the Nazis with a dead body. Best revival of a play went to Jonathan Spector's Eureka Day, a sharp comedy about well-meaning parents at a progressive school whose unity cracks open over a vaccine debate. Four-time Tony-winning actor and writer Harvey Fierstein received a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theatres. "I dedicate this award to the people in the dark," he said. with AP and AAP Succession star Sarah Snook has won a Tony Award for best leading actress in a play for her tour-de-force performance of more than two dozen roles in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Snook made her Broadway debut in the production and the Tony is the second major accolade she has won for the show after picking up an Olivier Award in London in 2024. "This means so much for a little Australian girl to be here on Broadway," Snook said as she accepted the award at New York's Radio City Music Hall on Sunday (Monday AEST). "I don't feel alone any night that I do this show," Snook said, dismissing the idea of her play as a one-woman show. "There are so many people onstage making it work and behind the stage making it work." Snook came to international attention for playing Shiv Roy in the TV series Succession, for which she won an Emmy. 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Host Cynthia Erivo, the Wicked film star, opened the show with a walk to the stage from the dressing room that mimicked actor Tom Francis' viral post-intermission live outdoor Manhattan stroll as he sings the title song in Sunset Blvd. Cole Escola won the Tony for best lead actor in a play for his creation Oh, Mary! The show, Escola's reimagining of Mary Todd Lincoln's life and relationship with husband Abraham Lincoln, blends historical satire with absurd camp. The show also earned Sam Pinkleton the Tony for best director of a play. Francis Jue won best actor in a featured role in a play for Yellow Face. He thanked the Asian American actors who came before him and addressed the next generation: "This community sees you and I hope that encourages you to be brave, and to dream and to dream big." Kara Young, who was nominated for a Tony in the role of featured actress in a play four years in a row, won for the second year in a row for her role in the 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Purpose. Natalie Venetia Belcon won the award for best featured actress in a musical for her role as Cuban singer Omara Portuondo in Buena Vista Social Club. Jak Malone won the award for best featured actor in a musical for Operation Mincemeat, a fast-paced World War Two spy farce based on a bizarre true British plot to trick the Nazis with a dead body. Best revival of a play went to Jonathan Spector's Eureka Day, a sharp comedy about well-meaning parents at a progressive school whose unity cracks open over a vaccine debate. Four-time Tony-winning actor and writer Harvey Fierstein received a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theatres. "I dedicate this award to the people in the dark," he said. with AP and AAP
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2 hours ago
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The 10 sliders rose to the occasion at the 11th Big Freeze, the fundraiser at the MCG that honours FightMND icon and Australian Of The Year Neale Daniher. As always, amid the fun of 10 celebrities in goofy dress-up sliding into a minus-six degrees ice bath for a good cause, there was pathos and heartache. Daniher is now confined to a wheelchair and can only talk through eye recognition software as he continues his long fight against MND, which is incurable. His daughter Bec now does much of the spruiking for their cause. Big Freeze is held before the King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood. As Demons players warmed up, they all went to greet Daniher, the former Melbourne coach, as he completed a lap of the MCG. Collingwood players also helped form a guard of honour for him. The theme this year was Australian icons and national cricket captain Alyssa Healy was Sharon "Shazza" Strezlecki, the netballer from Kath and Kim. Magda Szubanski, who has revealed she is battling an aggressive cancer, made "Shazza" an all-time great Australian TV comedy character. Healy did it justice, complete with neck brace and a suitably stunned expression as she walked out for her slide. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor, the last slider, dressed as Shane Warne - Shazza's crush. The slide, fittingly, was set up in the shadow of the Shane Warne stand. Actor Matt Nable came as Angus Young from AC-DC and remembered his brother Aaron, who died of MND last year. Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France, was a miniature Max Gawn and the Melbourne captain greeted him after his slide. Gawn, who stands at 2.08m, is also an avid cyclist and Evans, all 174cm of him, is one of his idols. "Your worst day on the bike is better than my best day on a footy field," Evans told Gawn. Swimming great Ariarne Titmus was Sandy from Grease, played by Olivia Newton-John, and as the song from the movie goes, chills were multiplying in the ice bath. Former Melbourne star Aaron Davey honoured AFL and Indigenous great Michael Long, while TV presenter and former sprinter Matt Shirvington was Chris Hemsworth's movie character Thor. A $10,000 bet was made that Shirvington would stay in his costume for the flight back to Sydney. Peter Daicos, whose sons Nick and Josh were playing for the Magpies on Monday, always loves the limelight and he came as Heath Ledger's iconic Joker. National netball captain Liz Watson was in all pink as Margot Robbie's Cowgirl Barbie and motor sport great Craig Lowndes was in all black as Mad Max. Shazza and her idol Warnie continued the good fight against the beast as Max Gawn met his Mini Me and everyone's chills were multiplying. 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Magda Szubanski, who has revealed she is battling an aggressive cancer, made "Shazza" an all-time great Australian TV comedy character. Healy did it justice, complete with neck brace and a suitably stunned expression as she walked out for her slide. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor, the last slider, dressed as Shane Warne - Shazza's crush. The slide, fittingly, was set up in the shadow of the Shane Warne stand. Actor Matt Nable came as Angus Young from AC-DC and remembered his brother Aaron, who died of MND last year. Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France, was a miniature Max Gawn and the Melbourne captain greeted him after his slide. Gawn, who stands at 2.08m, is also an avid cyclist and Evans, all 174cm of him, is one of his idols. "Your worst day on the bike is better than my best day on a footy field," Evans told Gawn. Swimming great Ariarne Titmus was Sandy from Grease, played by Olivia Newton-John, and as the song from the movie goes, chills were multiplying in the ice bath. Former Melbourne star Aaron Davey honoured AFL and Indigenous great Michael Long, while TV presenter and former sprinter Matt Shirvington was Chris Hemsworth's movie character Thor. A $10,000 bet was made that Shirvington would stay in his costume for the flight back to Sydney. Peter Daicos, whose sons Nick and Josh were playing for the Magpies on Monday, always loves the limelight and he came as Heath Ledger's iconic Joker. National netball captain Liz Watson was in all pink as Margot Robbie's Cowgirl Barbie and motor sport great Craig Lowndes was in all black as Mad Max.
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He only took a moment to contemplate the dare before agreeing. 'If they let me through security, 10 grand to the cause ... Neale, hopefully we will make it happen, hey?' Shirvo said. Olympic legend Ariarne Titmus went down as Olivia Newton-John's Sandra Dee from Grease, while netball superstar Lez Ellis paid tribute to Magda Szubanski's iconic Sharon character from Kath and Kim. There was also The Joker, Barbie, and even a double Max Gawn. The Big Freeze continues to raise money for FightMND. Check out all other sliders below and head here to donate. The Olympic legend dressed up as Sandra Dee, the iconic character from Grease played by Australian actress Olivia Newton-John. She had chills, and they were multiplying when she emerged from the icy pool. 'It's actually quite refreshing,' she said. 'I truly believe if everyone had a little bit ofNeale's motivation and positivity, the world would be a better place.' Ariarne Titmus went down as Olivia Newton-John's Sandra Dee. Credit: Channel 7 The Tour de France champion and four-time Olympian donned a skull cap and fake beard for his perfect 'shrunken' Max Gawn impersonation. The real Gawn took time out of his pre-match preparation to speak to Evans after the slide. 'I think his worst day on the bike is way better than my best day on the footy field,' Gawn said with a laugh. I'm seeing double. Two Max Gawns. Credit: Channel 7 The Collingwood champion nailed his impersonation of The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger. Daicos lived up to his billing as a master entertainer on the field with a couple of special moves. 'No one would be blaming (Daniher) for sitting at home and sitting there in comfort. I mean, he's working for others. How can you say 'no', took me a split nanosecond,' Daicos said. Daicos nailed his impersonation of The Joker. Credit: Getty The former rugby league player turned actor went down as AC/DC rocker Angus Young. Complete with a guitar, Nable said he was inspired by his daughter to dress up as the iconic guitarist. Nable's brother Adam died from MND just over a year ago. He fought back tears when paying tribute to the cause. 'You know, what I see with Neale Daniher, his fight, he's truly inspiring. A lot of you here wouldn't know what it's like with his family and how hard it is, but he is a truly great Australian and a man of great inspiration. I am so proud and privileged to be here,' he said. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The netball superstar nailed her impression of Barbie, played by Aussie superstar Margot Robbie. 'A lot colder than I thought,' she said. 'It is an absolute honour. This is such a special day. It is Neale's day. For him to come in there and share with all of us how important this is, it's an absolute honour. Just great to be part of this awesome group.' Watson goes down as Barbie. Credit: Getty Images The Channel 7 star and former sprinter went down as Thor, played by Australian actor Chris Hemsworth. Shirvo promised to stay in his uniform on his flight back to Sydney to raise more money for the cause. 'You're getting on a plane in a moment. I had someone say if you stay in the Thor uniform and do not have a shower, they will donate $10,000,' Hamish McLachlan said to Shirvo. 'If they let me through security, 10 grand to the cause, Neale, hopefully we will make it happen, hey?' Shirvo responded. Shirvo loved the cameras. Credit: Getty If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The captain of the all-conquering Australian cricket team paid tribute to Magda Szubanski's iconic Sharon character from Kath and Kim. She joked that she had a 'snog' with Shane Warne out the back before taking the slide. 'Really special afternoon. We may have had a snog out the back. Very special to be here, be a part of it, to be Sharon, even better,' she said. Healy nailed her Sharon get up. Credit: Getty The Melbourne great went down as Indigenous AFL legend Michael Long. He had a puffer jacket on just like Long does for the Long Walk. But the jacket appeared to weigh him down slightly in the pool. 'It actually nearly drowned me just then,' he said. 'Where's Danners? 13 years, never got an ice bath till now. Love you. Massive part of my life. Gave a young man a dream and very fortunate enough to call you family.' Davey takes the plunge. Credit: Getty Images The Supercars icon looked the part in his leather jacket as Mad Max, played by Aussie actor Mel Gibson. The driver completed a little backflip when he entered the water. 'There's no doubt he and the family are doing a fantastic job. Proud to be here, proud to support it and represent Supercars and I think it doesn't matter where you are, what demographic, you sometimes go through it,' he said. Lowndes went down as Mad Max. Credit: Getty Images The Australian cricket great went down as former teammate Shane Warne. 'I was lucky enough to play a lot of my career with my late mate. Miss him, but love what he did for this country in sport,' he said. 'Brought slow bowling back into Test match cricket which people love. People here at this ground, right around the world, loved him. As I said to Tim, great to be here to support him and probably more importantly on a day like today, support FightMND and Neale Daniher, also a great Australian.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
