Defence Minister Peter Dutton lauded the troops who fought to “end evil and topple tyranny” in his Anzac Day message.
Australians in 2020 marked Anzac Day without marches for the first time in more than a century as the COVID-19 pandemic kept people indoors.
Mr Dutton said that the manner of commemoration was less important than the act of doing so.
“In remembering the original Anzacs – and those that followed them – we not only recall their deeds, but also recognise the best qualities that defined them. Qualities which represent the highest standard for the Australian character and the society that we desire to live in,” he said.
Mr Dutton also paid tribute to all past and current Australians who have served in the military, saying they had “fought to end evil and topple tyranny”, with many returning home physically or mentally scarred.
Chief of Defence Angus Campbell said current members of the Australian Defence Force had a lot to be proud of.
“Every day I see our people humbly carry out their duty with excellence and initiative, and display great mateship. This is the essence of the Anzac Spirit,” he said.
“We remember and honour those who went before us from the Gallipoli landing in 1915 through to the campaigns and operations of today.”
Governor-General David Hurley and Mrs Hurley were spending Anzac Day in the NT, attending the Darwin dawn service before travelling to Katherine.
This year, with the coronavirus largely contained, the parades and ceremonies are mostly back.
Only services in Western Australia’s Perth and Peel regions have been cancelled after a hotel quarantine outbreak led to community virus transmission and the imposition of a three-day lockdown.
This year marks the 106th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli, a campaign which ultimately cost more than 8700 Australian lives.
The Australian War Memorial received approval from health authorities to hold the traditional dawn service and national ceremony.
A total of 3000 pre-registered ticket holders were able to attend the dawn service and 4200 for the national ceremony in Canberra.
Anzac Day services overseas will not go ahead, including Australian and New Zealand-led services in Turkey and Australian services in France.
