Commemoration

About Us

Commemorations & War Graves The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) acknowledges and commemorates all those who have served Austral

Anzac biscuits and remembrance

Modern recipe for Anzac biscuits Bake a batch of Anzac biscuits.

Anzac Day 25 April

Domestic and overseas commemorations National dawn service and ceremony in Canberra Each year in Canberra, the Australian War Memorial hosts the

Anzac Day In Australia (1940) newsreel (Video)

The first Anzac Day of the war was seen very much as a passing of the torch from the original AIF to the Second AIF. In this newsreel footage, we see troops, World War I veterans and police marching…

Australian national commemorations

Upcoming anniversaries and events Our National Commemorations Program aims to provide recognition, respect and acknowledgement to all Australian veterans, which supports DVA's objectives

Australian Remembrance Trail in Belgium and France

Plan your trip Between 1916 and 1918, some 295,000 Australians served on the Western Front.

Australian war graves and overseas memorials

In Australia

Battle for Australia Day

Significance of the day Thousands of Australians were engaged in actions against Japanese forces during the Battle for Australia.

Bugles - Last Post - Here they come—A day to remember (Video)

This video is part of a series of videos developed for the Here they come—A day to remember publication. It focuses on Bugles.

Commemoration

The Australian Government commemorates and remembers the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service men and women.

Commemorative grants to honour Australian veterans

Grant categories DVA provides two categories of grants under the

Flags - Here they come—A day to remember (Video)

This video is part of a series of videos developed for the Here they come—A day to remember publication. It focuses on flags.

Here they come—A day to remember video (Video)

This video is part of a series of videos developed for the Here they come—A day to remember publication.

Honour Rolls - Here they come—A day to remember (Video)

This video is part of a series of videos developed for the Here they come—A day to remember publication. It focuses on Honour Rolls.

Kokoda Track trekking in Papua New Guinea

Significance of Kokoda When Australians remember World War I, they often think of the Gallipoli Campaign. When they think of World War II, many think of the Kokoda Campaign.

Memorial sites to visit in Australia and overseas

Remembering ... in many ways Wherever you are in Australia, in small towns and large cities, you can find a war memorial. Community war memorials come in many forms:

Merchant Navy Day 3 September

Significance of 3 September We commemorate Merchant Navy Day each year on 3 September. This is the anniversary of the first merchant marine sinking of World War II.

Music to play at commemorations

Spotify playlist This year, we’ve released a playlist on the Spotify music streaming service – Anzac Day 2020.

Ode of Remembrance and other poems

Ode of Remembrance The Ode of Remembrance has been recited at events to commemorate wartime service and sacrifice since 1921.

Personal commemorations

Planning a commemorative service

If you plan to host a local ceremony to honour the service and sacrifice of veterans, such as Anzac Day or Remembrance Day, you could follow our suggested Order of Service.

Poppies - Here they come—A day to remember (Video)

This video is part of a series of videos developed for the Here they come—A day to remember publication. It focuses on poppies.

Poppies to make

Symbol of commemoration The poppy is a strong symbol of commemoration.

Remembrance Day 11 November

How you can get involved On Remembrance Day, we acknowledge those who have served and continue to serve our country. All Australians can:

Rosemary - Here they come—A day to remember (Video)

This video is part of a series of videos developed for the Here they come—A day to remember publication. It focus on Rosemary

Speeches for commemorations

Ideas for local content You could include a story of someone from your community or school who served Australia during a global conflict or peacekeeping mission.

Symbols of commemoration

#1MS (hashtag 1 minute's silence) At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month (Remembrance Day), we pause for 1 minute of sil

Victory in the Pacific Day 15 August

Commemorating 2020 VP Day in Australia In the lead up to the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, we’ve been revealing how Australians who served and those at home experienced the

Vietnam Veterans' Day 18 August

Australians and the Vietnam War The Vietnam War was Australia's longest military engagement of the 20th Century.

War Cemeteries within Australia (Fact sheet)

The Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) cares for the perpetual commemorations of Commonwealth forces of the First and Second World Wars in 72 Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) war…

War museums and memorials to visit

Visit a site or interact online Museums play a vital role in educating the public by:

Why We Remember: P-3 Commemoration presentation (Educational), (Classroom activity)

Presentation slide deck for teachers of P-3 students in Australia. Designed to explain the difference between 'celebration' and 'commemoration' to lower primary students. It explores the terms '…

Wreaths - Here they come—A day to remember (Video)

This video is part of a series of videos developed for the Here they come—A day to remember publication. It focuses on wreaths.

Wreaths to make

Symbol of commemoration To the ancient Romans, a wreath of laurel leaves was a symbol of bravery, strength and
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