This Friday the country will stop to remember the sacrifice and bravery of Australian and New Zealand servicemen and servicewomen, past and present.
April 25 will mark 110 years since the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landed at Gallipoli during World War I.
Now, many communities hold services to commemorate ANZAC Day and honour the contributions made during conflict and peacekeeping missions.
RSL Queensland state president Major General Stephen Day is encouraging everyone to embrace ANZAC Day, wherever they are.
“ANZAC Day reminds us of the sacrifices that our service members, both past and present, have made to help guard the way of life we are fortunate to have,” he said.
“It is a day for people of all ages to reflect and honour the selflessness and courage of our service personnel.
“The day also gives veterans a chance to rekindle the bond of mateship that lives on in their hearts.”
Across the Sunshine Coast, services and events will acknowledge and recognise the service of veterans and current serving defence members.
“We recognise that this year the national commemoration falls close to the Easter holidays, so we anticipate many people across the state may be travelling or taking an extended break over this period,” he said.
“There’s no greater way to honour the selfless contribution of our past and present service personnel than by participating in your local ANZAC Day commemorations and keeping the spirit of our ANZACs alive.”
Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club (MSLSC) and The Surf Club Mooloolaba will hold its well-attended dawn service at Mooloolaba Beach at 5am.
This year marks the 16th anniversary of the event, which started as a small service led by the MSLSC Vietnam Veterans and now draws in more than 10,000 attendees annually.
As dawn breaks, boat crews will paddle out to sea and lay wreaths before raising their oars to the sounds of the Last Post.
The service will also feature a lone horseman from the 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Woombye Troop.
At Kawana Beach from midday, the entire surf lifesaving patrol will be made up of ex-servicepeople.
The Kawana Waters RSL Sub-branch has joined with the Kawana Surf Lifesaving Club to conduct the first ever ANZAC patrol.
Kawana Surf Lifesaving Club was formed in 1980 and former servicepeople from all walks of life, locations and ranks make up a large proportion of the surf lifesaving volunteers.
ANZAC Day services
The following ANZAC Day dawn services and mid-morning services will be hosted by RSL Queensland sub-branches across the Sunshine Coast.
Buddina – Dawn Service: 5.25am, Day Service: 10.30am, both at Kawana Waters Surf Club, 99 Pacific Boulevard.
Beerwah – Dawn Service: 4am, Day Service: 10am, both at Turner Park Cenotaph, Turner Street. March: 9.15am from Simpson Street.
Caloundra – Dawn Service: 5am at Kings Beach Amphitheatre, De Vene Street, Kings Beach. March: 8.30am from Oval Avenue. Day Service: 10am at Memorial Gardens Cenotaph, Third Avenue, Caloundra.
Coolum Beach – Dawn Service: 4.30am at Coolum-Peregian RSL Sub-Branch, 1906 David Low Way.
Cooroy – Dawn Service: 4.45am at Cooroy Cenotaph, Tewantin Road. March: 10am from Lower Maple Street.
Glass House Mountains – Dawn Service: 6am at Cenotaph, 2 Burgess Street. March: 10am from the Pitt Street Car Park. Day Service: 10.45am at Glasshouse Community Hall, 8 Coonowrin Road.
Landsborough – Dawn Service: 4.15am, Day Service: 9.45am, both at RSL Park, Cribb Street. March: 8.45am from Landsborough State School, 41 Gympie Street.
Maroochydore – Dawn Service: 4.28am, Day Service: 9am, both at Cenotaph, 53 The Esplanade, Cotton Tree. March: 8am from Maroochy RSL, 105 Memorial Avenue, Maroochydore.
Mapleton/Montville – Dawn Service: 5.30am at Memorial Gates, Main Street, Montville. March: 9.45am from Wilga Court, Mapleton. Day Service: 10am at Mapleton Memorial Park, Flaxton Drive, Mapleton.
Mudjimba – Dawn Service: 5.20am, Day Service: 11am, both at the Cenotaph, Power Park, Mudjimba Esplanade. March: 10.45am from Beach Road, Mudjimba.
Nambour – Dawn Service: 5.15am, March: 8.30am, Day Service: 9am, all at Quota Memorial Park, Matthew Street, Nambour.
Tewantin – Dawn Service: 5.30am, Day Service: 10am, both at Tewantin Cenotaph, 1 Memorial Avenue. March: 9.25am from Poinciana Avenue and Sidoni Street intersection.
More events may have been added at anzacspirit.com.au.
