Crowds have gathered in Sydney as millions of Aussies prepare to commemorate Anzac Day
Thousands of Aussies of all ages gathered along the Sydney Harbour foreshore on Friday night for the annual Lest We Forget Harbour sunset tribute to remember those who lost their lives serving our nation.
A poem written more than a century ago during World War I has provided a moving backdrop for the Anzac eve event.
The Ode of Remembrance is the fourth stanza of the poem For the Fallen, penned by English poet and writer Laurence Binyon and first published in September 1914.
The ode, recited by Anzac forces to honour wartime sacrifices, has been a staple of remembrance services since 1921.
As the sun set, its memorable words ‘at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them’ rang out across the Sydney Opera House.
A full orchestra and featured artists, including Patricia ‘Little Pattie’ Amphlett and Dami Im performed as rowboats carrying Surf Lifesaving volunteers from various clubs dotted the harbour and military ships sailed past.
Thousands gathered at the Sydney Opera House for the annual Lest We Forget Harbour sunset tribute
Rowboats carrying Surf Lifesaving volunteers dotted the harbour along with military ships
Demi Im (right) was among the artists who performed at Friday night’s sunset service
Bagpipe-playing veteran Warrant Officer Andrew Iverson also performed as part of the solemn service.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and former governor-general and defence force chief Sir Peter Cosgrove were among those in attendance who laid wreaths.
The sunset service was first held in 2025 to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli Landings and 80 years since the end of WWII.
It comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns defended his decision to bring in an additional Anzac Day public holiday.
NSW, the ACT, and WA will observe a public holiday on Monday due to Anzac Dac falling on the weekend, while all other states and territories miss out.
‘We’ve got 11 public holidays in NSW. The other states have 13. So we’re a couple down on every other jurisdiction,’ Minns told Sunrise on Friday.
‘With Anzac Day falling on a Saturday and then a Sunday for this year and next year, we decided that we should have another public holiday.’
He added that the decision followed consultation with the NSW RSL.
The other states have no plans to follow suit in 2027, when Anzac Day will fall on a Sunday.
‘It’s really important that people do keep that day as being sacrosanct,’ Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.