The way Anzac Day is marked in the capital will almost return to normal on Monday for the first time in two years, after the pandemic forced significant changes to the way the anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing was commemorated.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
People attending the Australian War Memorial's dawn service, which begins at 5.30am, will not need tickets.
A crowd larger than 30,000 people had been usual in pre-COVID years, before border closures and restrictions required the memorial to host a more locally-focused service last year, which drew about 4500 people.
The memorial's director, Matt Anderson, said in the lead-up this Anzac Day would be about encouraging people to gather together once more in person.
"In previous years what we've been saying to people was, 'We're encouraging you to gather in spirit instead of in person'. This year is the reverse of that. We're encouraging people to gather in person to commemorate," Mr Anderson said.
About 5000 people are expected to attend the dawn service at the memorial, which has been relocated into the grounds while the building undergoes a controversial $500 million redevelopment.
The dawn service and veterans' March will take place in the Sculpture Garden in the western grounds of the memorial precinct.
The usual mid-morning service has been scrapped this year due to the redevelopment work.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association commemorative ceremony begins at 8am, while the ACT Returned and Services League veterans' march begins at 9.30am.
READ MORE:
People wishing to visit the War Memorial's galleries and commemorative area can do so from midday but will require tickets. The Last Post ceremony, which begins at 4.45pm, is already fully booked.
The Anzac Day dawn service from Gallipoli, Turkey, will be broadcast on ABC TV at 12.30pm (AEST). The dawn service from Villers-Bretonneux will be broadcast on the ABC at 1.30pm (AEST).
After two years of COVID disruptions, Canberra Services Club is also hoping to draw the community back together to commemorate Anzac Day at the club's old site in Manuka, where its clubhouse burned down more than a decade ago.
A dawn service will be held at the club's site, at the corner of Canberra Avenue and Manuka Circle, at 6.30am, followed by breakfast and two-up at the club's Barton premises - at 51 Blackall Street - from 7.30am.
While fear and uncertainty still linger, club president Mike Kinniburgh expected the return of two-up to the club's Anzac Day program would be a big drawcard.
ANZAC DAY 2022
Where to commemorate - overview:
- Australian War Memorial dawn service: 5.30am
- Canberra Services Club dawn service: 6.30am
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans ceremony: 8am
- RSL Veterans' march: 9.30am
- War Memorial galleries open (tickets required): 12pm
- Gallipoli dawn service TV broadcast: 12.30pm
- Villers-Bretonneux dawn service TV broadcast: 1.30pm
- War Memorial Last Post ceremony: 4.45pm
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
