Australians, New Zealanders mark Anzac Day with virtual dawn services

By Ihesiulo Grace

25 April 2020

Foreign

Australians and New Zealanders have marked Anzac Day in alternative ways this year as public commemorations were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of attending traditional Anzac Day marches and public events, thousands of citizens stood outside their homes at the end of their driveways at dawn on Saturday for a minute’s silence to remember those who gave their lives for their countries.

In New Zealand, a special virtual dawn service was broadcast on Radio New Zealand at 6 am (1800 GMT), in lieu of official gatherings.

Landmarks such as Auckland’s museum, Sky Tower and Harbour Bridge were lit up in poppy red to commemorate the day.

In Australia, a didgeridoo sounded at the beginning of the national commemorative service at 6 am (2000 GMT), which was organized by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and televised live by public broadcaster ABC.

The service was attended by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who said Anzac Day was “our most sacred day.”

“Australians all, lest we forget, for those who were so young, who have made us so free,” Morrison said, adding that this was not the first time Anzac Day traditions had been interrupted.

“On Anzac Day 1919, the first after the Great War, there were no city marches or parades for the returning veterans, because Australians were battling the Spanish flu pandemic,” Morrison said.

April 25 marks the day in 1915 that Australian and New Zealand soldiers, called Anzacs, stormed ashore in a disastrous attempt by a British-led force to invade Turkey. Thousands of Anzacs died in the fighting, but today the day has a broader meaning.

Anzac Day commemorates all New Zealanders and Australians killed in war and honours returned and serving servicemen and women.

Some 89 Australian expeditioners in the Antarctic also celebrated Anzac Day at four research stations across the icy continent, the only one free from coronavirus amid the global pandemic.

“The Anzac Day commemorations this year on our Antarctic stations are particularly special,” Australian Antarctic Division Director Kim Ellis said in a video message.

“Our expeditions put people in remote and extreme environment and it gives us a very strong and enduring connection with the Anzac spirit,” he said.

For the first time, the Governors-General of Australia and New Zealand recorded a joint video message to commemorate the day.

In the message, Australian Governor-General David Hurley and New Zealand’s Patsy Reddy said they recognized the unique nature of this year’s Anzac Day.

“There will be no public gatherings in our towns and cities, and no opportunities for our citizens to stand side by side to honour our veterans and pay homage to those who lost their lives in times of war,” Reddy said.

But people could still participate in an act of remembrance, Hurley said.

“We know that in thousands of homes across Australia and New Zealand, people will come together in spirit to honour the service and sacrifice of those who have served.” (dpa)