Local residents are today joining in solidarity with the rest of Australia in commemorating Anzac Day, with various dawn and civic services featured around the region.
Bundaberg’s Civic Service will be held in Anzac Park for the first time since COVID restrictions had cancelled plans the year before, with people instead asked to pay their respects at the front of their homes for the the Light up the Dawn campaign.
While the campaign ran again this year, people are also free to attend public services with social distancing measures in place.
Mayor Jack Dempsey said however and wherever you were choosing to commemorate, today was an opportunity to pause, to reflect and to honour those who sacrificed their lives for Australia.
“Today marks the 106th anniversary of the landing at Anzac Cove where our young nation had a baptism of fire,” he said.
“There were 16,000 Australians and New Zealanders who joined British, French and Indian forces on that fateful day.
“The whole Gallipoli operation cost 26,111 Australian casualties, including 8141 lives. We gather at this time on this day every year to remember them.”
Mayor Dempsey said Anzac Day was also an opportunity to honour others that had served and were currently serving the nation.
“This year, as the Australian military involvement in Afghanistan draws to a close, we also honour all the men and women who fought for us in this terrible conflict,” he said.
“In November 2001, Australia joined the United States-led coalition to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terror base of operations, to remove the Taliban from power and to defeat al Qaeda.
“There was no indication at the time this would be Australia’s longest war.”
More than 26,000 Australian soldiers served in Afghanistan on Operation Slipper and 41 Australians have died.
“They will never be forgotten,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“Across the Bundaberg Region today we honour all the men and women who have served in theatres and operations around the world to keep us free.
“We thank them for their sacrifice, Lest We Forget.”
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