Latest news with #ANZACs
Reuters
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Australia and New Zealand honour military in Anzac Day memorial services
SYDNEY, April 25 (Reuters) - Thousands gathered across Australia and New Zealand on Friday for Anzac Day, a public holiday commemorating military service members who fought and died during wartime. Anzac Day originally marked the nations' role in an ultimately unsuccessful campaign to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey during World War One, which resulted in 130,000 deaths on both sides of the conflict. here. In a key episode on April 25, 1915, thousands of troops from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) took part in an ill-fated amphibious invasion by British Empire forces on the area's narrow beaches. Today, Anzac Day honours all Australian and New Zealand troops who have served in conflict. Around 7,500 people on Friday attended a dawn service in Australia's largest city, Sydney, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported, before the annual march of military veterans through the centre of the New South Wales state capital. Other major services marking the day, a nationwide public holiday, were held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, as well as in state capitals Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart. "It is now a century and a decade since the first Anzacs climbed into their boats and rowed into history," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement. "The years come and go, and still we come together to honour them and all who have followed." In New Zealand, which contributed about one in six troops to the Gallipoli campaign, memorials also took place, including a large service at the country's war memorial in the capital, Wellington. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, at Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey for Anzac Day, said he had visited battlefields and cemeteries in the area where around 2,800 New Zealanders died during the failed campaign. "Nothing in my life has been quite as humbling and moving as walking in the footsteps of the ANZACs," Luxon said on X.
SBS Australia
25-04-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Service and sacrifice remembered on ANZAC day
"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 Ode of Remembrance, read by Peter Baldwin, President of the ACT Returned and Services League. More than 25,000 people gathered at the Australian War Memorial as dawn broke on ANZAC Day. The national service is one of hundreds of gatherings across Australia, marking the 110th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli. Scott Bevan hosted the ceremony. "We assemble here at this special place of remembrance on this day, symbolically close to the time that the first ANZACs - young men from Australia and New Zealand - landed on a Turkish beach during the First World War. As we remember the ANZACs of 1915, we also remember all of those who have followed in their footsteps. We especially remember those who gave their lives, those who gave their good health, and those who grieve for them." The 25th of April commemorates the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. On April 25, 1915, troops landed on what's now known as ANZAC Cove in Türkiye Over the next eight months, Australian and New Zealand forces served side by side through the harsh conditions, along with troops from India, France, and Britain. More than 8,000 Australians and almost 3,000 New Zealanders lost their lives, around 1/6th of all those who had landed on the peninsula. The day also recognises the service of Australian and New Zealand soldiers who have fought in subsequent conflicts and who continue to serve in the armed forces today. Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Matt Buckley gave the dawn service address. "May the stories of every sailor, soldier and aviator who has served our nation at war, in competition and in crisis, be remembered and may the spirit of those more than 103,000 Australians on the Wall of Remembrance behind me, who made the ultimate sacrifice, be with us always, lest we forget." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the Dawn Service in Canberra. "We who are gathered here think of those who went out to the battlefields of all wars, but did not return. We feel them still near us in spirit. We wish to be worthy of their great sacrifice." Whilst opposition leader Peter Dutton was in Queensland - releasing a pre recorded message overnight. "In this year, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, we particularly express our gratitude to the 1 million Australians who served, and served with great honour."
The Age
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Pro-Palestine group sends teachers classroom guide challenging ‘Anzac mythology'
Teachers are being urged to draw attention to Australian soldiers' violence in the Middle East ahead of Anzac Day by a pro-Palestine activist group 'frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war'. Teachers and School Staff for Palestine Victoria has developed and distributed a new teaching resource – called 'Challenging Anzac Day' – to thousands of teachers nationwide, encouraging them to share with students details of Australian troops' role in the Middle East during the First World War. The lesson guide urges teachers to tell children that members of an Australian Light Horse brigade raided and patrolled hundreds of villages, killing up to 137 civilians at Sarafand al-'Amar – also known as Surafend – in what was then Palestine. 'The brutal massacre committed by the ANZACs at Sarafand al-'Amar chillingly portended the Nakba, the catastrophic displacement of Palestinians in 1947-1949,' the resource says. Loading The Surafend incident, as it became known, was examined in recent years as part of the Australian Defence Force's Brereton report, which found there was a reluctance among military command at the time to hold Australian forces to account for breaching prohibitions against killing civilians. The pro-Palestine group's resource also encourages teachers to tell students that Australian troops burned a village of 170 dwellings south of Cairo in 1919 and 'arrested and flogged up to 250 seditious agitators'. A spokesperson for the group, teacher Ohad Kozminsky, said the publication's goal was to 'challenge the dominant and irresponsible Anzac mythology'. 'We are frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war and close off critical discussion of Australia's role in violence and imperialism. Our students deserve better,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pro-Palestine educators send teachers new classroom resource challenging ‘Anzac mythology'
Teachers are being urged to draw attention to Australian soldiers' violence in the Middle East ahead of Anzac Day by a pro-Palestine educators' group 'frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war'. Teachers and School Staff for Palestine Victoria have developed and distributed a new teaching resource – called 'Challenging Anzac Day' – to thousands of teachers nationwide, encouraging them to share with students details of Australian troops' role in the Middle East during the First World War. The lesson guide urges teachers to tell children that members of an Australian Light Horse brigade raided and patrolled hundreds of villages, killing up to 137 civilians at Sarafand al-'Amar – also known as Surafend – in what was then Palestine. 'The brutal massacre committed by the ANZACs at Sarafand al-'Amar chillingly portended the Nakba, the catastrophic displacement of Palestinians in 1947-1949,' the resource says. The Surafend incident, as it became known, was examined in recent years as part of the Australian Defence Force's Brereton report, which found there was a reluctance among military command at the time to hold Australian forces to account for breaching prohibitions against killing civilians. The pro-Palestine group's resource also encourages teachers to tell students that Australian troops burned a village of 170 dwellings south of Cairo in 1919, and 'arrested and flogged up to 250 seditious agitators'. A spokesperson for the group, teacher Ohad Kozminsky, said the publication's goal was to 'challenge the dominant and irresponsible Anzac mythology'. 'We are frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war and close off critical discussion of Australia's role in violence and imperialism. Our students deserve better,' he said. The Education Department said it did not endorse the group's publication.
The Age
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Pro-Palestine educators send teachers new classroom resource challenging ‘Anzac mythology'
Teachers are being urged to draw attention to Australian soldiers' violence in the Middle East ahead of Anzac Day by a pro-Palestine educators' group 'frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war'. Teachers and School Staff for Palestine Victoria have developed and distributed a new teaching resource – called 'Challenging Anzac Day' – to thousands of teachers nationwide, encouraging them to share with students details of Australian troops' role in the Middle East during the First World War. The lesson guide urges teachers to tell children that members of an Australian Light Horse brigade raided and patrolled hundreds of villages, killing up to 137 civilians at Sarafand al-'Amar – also known as Surafend – in what was then Palestine. 'The brutal massacre committed by the ANZACs at Sarafand al-'Amar chillingly portended the Nakba, the catastrophic displacement of Palestinians in 1947-1949,' the resource says. The Surafend incident, as it became known, was examined by the Australian Defence Force in recent years as part of the Brereton report and found there was a reluctance among military command at the time to hold Australian forces to account for breaching prohibitions against killing civilians. The pro-Palestine group's resource also encourages teachers to tell students that Australian troops burned a village of 170 dwellings south of Cairo in 1919, and 'arrested and flogged up to 250 seditious agitators'. A spokesperson for the group, teacher Ohad Kozminsky, said the publication's goal was to 'challenge the dominant and irresponsible Anzac mythology'. 'We are frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war and close off critical discussion of Australia's role in violence and imperialism. Our students deserve better,' he said. The Education Department said it did not endorse the group's publication.
