2025 Ballarat Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Cenotaph.
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00:00Hello, my name is Shannon and I am a proud Wadawurrung woman.
00:04And we are gathered here today on my family's custodial lands, Wadawurrung Dja or Wadawurrung
00:09Country. I am honoured to be here with you all today and to extend a warm welcome to each and
00:15every one of you. I would like to begin today by acknowledging ancestors and paying my respects to
00:21our elders past and present. I would like to do this today in Wadawurrung language.
00:27In our language, that means we deeply respect our people of the past. We deeply respect their
00:52knowledge of country, water, life, their care of the traditions and of each other. We stand with
00:59their spirit. I thought it might be a good opportunity to touch upon just why welcome to country is so
01:07important. It's a practice that's embedded in millennia of traditions. Across Australia there
01:14is not just one nation, there are hundreds of nations, each with their own languages, social
01:19structures, beliefs and customs. When two clans would meet from neighbouring nations, a ceremony
01:26would take place. This would be a welcoming ceremony. These ceremonies were ways in which we would share
01:34information about our lands, perhaps where you could hunt, areas to avoid and where to camp and find key
01:41resources. But nowadays the welcome ceremony has evolved because it includes all of you.
01:51This is a way for us to share information in our peoples, language and culture with the broader
01:55community that calls this country home. It is also a way for us to introduce you to our old people, the
02:03spirits of those who are now in the dream time, watching over us from the Sky Country. We ask them to
02:09watch over and protect you whilst you are on our country, to keep you safe. Today we stand not just with
02:17the spirits of Wadawurrung ancestors, but also all of those who have served Australia and New Zealand in
02:22the defence of our nations. On this Anzac Day we remember the sacrifices made by generations past and
02:30present and their unwavering commitment to preserving the freedom we hold dear. To them I also say,
02:41Today and always we stand with your spirits. We honour your courage, your mateship and
02:47resilience. I stand here in the spirit of my ancestors today and say to you all,
02:58Welcome to Wadawurrung Country. We invite you to walk together with us with respect and care for
03:04country and everyone who lives upon it. Thank you all and take care.
03:17Thank you very much Shannon Menon for the Welcome to Country and this year's theme of Anzac Day is
03:29connection to community, so it is even more significant this morning. Good morning all and
03:34welcome. If you're seated and able to please stand, would you please remain a respectful silence for the
03:40mounting of the catafalque party made up of members of the 8th 7th Battalion, the Royal Victoria Regiment
03:45led by Corporal Gary Byers and the flag party members of 300 Army Cadet Unit. They'll be drummed on by Peter Gunn.
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06:54thank you reg and good morning everyone my name is tracy hargraves i am the mayor and
07:14delacombe ward councillor with the city of ballarat it is an honor and a privilege to
07:19be here today to commemorate anzac day with you all at the 2025 dawn service thank you so much
07:26to shannon menon for welcoming us to country and i would like to acknowledge this morning's guests
07:31the honorable catherine king mp federal member for ballarat and minister for infrastructure
07:36transport regional development and local government juliana addison mp member for wendaree
07:42joe mccracken mp member for western victoria and shadow cabinet secretary members of the australian
07:49defense force passed and serving including lieutenant colonel paul o'donnell president of
07:55the ballarat rsl frank nucio and rsl members superintendent frank sales divisional commander
08:02victoria police my fellow councillor damon saunders and of course one of all of you today we gather
08:09in solemn remembrance and deep gratitude anzac day stands at the cornerstone of our national identity
08:16and today we pause and honor the courage sacrifice and resilience of those who have served and who
08:22continue to serve our country here in ballarat our connection to our veterans runs deep we do not just
08:29remember we enshrine our city is home to symbols of service and sacrifice that speak louder than words
08:36ever could the ballarat center center where we gather this morning holds a special place in our
08:42commemorations where we pause reflect and remember those who gave everything the arch of victory
08:48has been standing tall since 1920 it stands as a promise that those who served in world war one and
08:55in every conflict since will never be forgotten the path continues down the avenue of honor and the avenue
09:02is a living growing tribute to more than 3 800 men and women who answered the call
09:07each tree stands proudly as a symbol of life service and remembrance it is the longest commemorative
09:15avenue in the world and a powerful testament to ballarat's heroes not far from here the australian
09:21ex-prisoners of war memorial stands in quiet dignity it gives voice to those who endured unimaginable
09:27hardship their names etched in stone remind us of courage under duress and the strength of the human
09:34spirit these monuments are bridges between generations they teach our children the cost of peace the
09:40meaning of service and the value of freedom to our veterans we thank you not only with words but with
09:47the care that we take in preserving your legacy and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice we say
09:53we remember always lest we forget
10:13thank you councillor hargraves the venerable michael o'brien is the rector of saint peter's ballarat and
10:19the archdeacon of ballarat father o'brien will lead us in the dawn service remembrance prayer
10:41let us pray as i offer this prayer in christian worship i invite you to
10:48offer your prayer in your own tradition according to your own faith
10:55it is a prayer of remembrance
10:59almighty god our heavenly father we remember with thanksgiving those who have made the supreme sacrifice
11:06for us in time of war we pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain
11:12may your grace enable us this day to dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice freedom and peace
11:22and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world for the honor and glory of your name
11:29for jesus christ our lord amen and a prayer for peace
11:43lord we are all your family you call us to live together as brothers and sisters
11:48help us to overcome the barriers that divide people and nations from one another
11:56bless every effort being made to bring peace and understanding to the world
12:01so that we may learn your ways and serve your will through jesus christ our lord
12:07the anzac requiem will be recited jointly this morning our readers are elsie day from phoenix
12:26community college and hugo johnson from st patrick's college on this day above all days we recall those
12:43who served in war and who did not return to receive the grateful thanks of the nation
12:48we remember those who still sleep where they were left amid the holy scrub in the valleys and on the
12:56ridges of gallipoli on the rocky and terraced hills of palestine and in the lovely cemeteries of france
13:05we remember those who lie asleep in ground beneath the shimmering haze of the libyan desert at bardia
13:12derna to brook and amid the mountain passes and olive groves of greece and creek and the rugged
13:19snow-capped hills of lebanon and syria we remember those who lie buried in the jungles of malaya and
13:27burma in new guinea and in the distant isles of the pacific we remember those who lie in unknown
13:34resting places in almost every land and those gallant sailors whose grave is the unending sea
13:42so we remember those who died as prisoners of the war remote from their homeland and from the
13:56comforting presence of their kids and kin we think of the service and sacrifice of the women
14:02who gave their lives in our own and foreign lands and at sea in two world wars we recall two
14:09the staunch friends who fought beside us on the first anzac day men of new zealand who helped create
14:15the name of anzac and all the new zealanders who have served alongside us since we recall to all
14:21those who gave their lives and merchant services and british commonwealth and allied forces we think
14:28of every man and woman who in most crucial hours died so that the light of freedom and humanity might
14:34continue to shine we think of those gallant men and women who died in korea malaya borneo vietnam
14:42east timor iraq and afghanistan and in peacekeeping and peace enforcing commitments to defend our freedom
14:50and preserve peace and security may they all rest proudly in their knowledge of their achievement
14:56and may we and our successes in that heritage prove worthy of their sacrifice
15:12our reading this morning will be delivered by lieutenant colonel paul o'donnell
15:16commanding officer 8 7th battalion the royal victoria regiment
15:38distinguished guests ladies and gentlemen fellow australians and new zealanders
15:43in the early morning of the 9th of august 1915 only a few months after the initial landing of the
15:49australian new zealand army corps aquilipoli three australians from victoria defended a newly captured
15:56trench from turkish bombing parties the initial counter-attack led by turkish forces blew up the
16:01barricade from which determined resistance was mounted rebuilding and repelling the attack at turkish
16:07bombs destroyed the barricade twice more these three victorians members of the 7th battalion
16:13resisted lieutenant frederick tubb from longwood corporal alexander burton from kitan and corporal
16:21william dunston from ballarat whose memorial lies behind the senate top only 200 meters away
16:27succeeded in holding this position frederick was wounded in the head and arm alexander was killed
16:34and william was blinded for almost a year following this action all three were awarded the victoria cross
16:40for their most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty this morning we meet here in ballarat to
16:46commemorate the sacrifice of those australians and new zealanders that served were wounded or killed
16:52in action during the first world war and subsequent conflicts today marks the 110th anniversary of the
16:58landing of gallipoli and we honor those men and women of the army navy and air force who served on
17:05behalf of all of us in times of need commemorating an event like this is deeply personal it moves us
17:14as they are us and we are you honoring their bravery their mateship courage and sacrifice is something we
17:22can all celebrate as it is part of our national character though we all experience day-to-day differences
17:29know this in commemorating anzac day we are united and part of a far greater community beyond ballarat
17:36already today there have been hundreds of dawn services across new zealand with tens of thousands
17:42of our brothers and sisters from across the ditch honoring our fallen as we honor theirs there will
17:48be hundreds more dawn services across this vast land all the way to the pilgrim and beyond where
17:54thousands of our fellow australians will meet in their yellow and orange five years work shirts
17:58honoring the same reason why we make here today we are greater than the sum of their parts
18:05on a personal note on this anzac day i also remember and honor those that may be amongst you
18:11this morning and the crowd gathered here mr steve alice and mr adam parker my first corporals when
18:16i was a soldier who served at east timor as part of interthet corporals george cultman and marie
18:22orston who served in the solomon islands my rsm aaron roberts who served across the globe and many
18:28many more all of which are from you the community of ballarat and all have or still serve as custodians
18:36of the history honors and legacy left by those that came before us over 110 years ago our values of service
18:45courage respect integrity and excellence have their oranges origins in cities and towns like ballarat
18:53our legacy here regional victoria is carried by your unit our unit the 8th 7th battalion of
18:59royal victoria regiment with humility these values are embodied in the men and women who serve their
19:05country every day as have over a quarter of a million australians alive today that have worn this uniform
19:12i thank all those who came before us for their service and sacrifice that have contributed no
19:18small part to the nation we inherited on this anzac day let us remember the service excellence and
19:25sacrifice of their forebears and honor them by living our lives free lest we forget
19:48thank you lieutenant colonel paul o'donnell we now welcome piper subrand and the president of the
19:54barrad rsl frank nuccio to lay the symbolic dawn service rink
20:24thank you lieutenant colonel paul o'donnell we now welcome piper subrand and the president of the
20:29barrad rsl frank nuccio to lay the
20:54barrad rsl frank nuccio to lay the
21:21confirmed monkey
21:29frivol partnered bird true
21:30rod rs frank nuccio to lay the unamb
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21:46Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
22:09Baroque President Frank Nuccio will now lead the ritual segment of our service, which will
22:14include the ode, then the last post. This will be followed by a minute's silence. A bell
22:20will denote the end of the silence. We'll then hear the rouse. The national anthem, rather,
22:25of Australia and New Zealand will be sung, and our service will conclude when the flag
22:30and catafalque party dismount. For those of you who are seated and are able to, would you please stand?
22:44They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the
22:53years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
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27:04Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
27:16Please remain standing for the Australian and New Zealand national anthems.
27:20They'll be sung by Bailey Mackey from Phoenix Community College.
29:15Shorts of strife and poor
29:19Make and raise this word of power
29:26God to bend New Zealand
29:45Australians, oh let us rejoice
30:06For we are one and free
30:10With golden soil and wealth for toil
30:15Our home is girt by sea
30:20Our land abounds in nature's gifts
30:25Our beauty rich and rare
30:30In history's page let every stage
30:35Advance Australia fair
30:39In joyful strains then let us sing
30:45At that Australia fair
30:52Would you please remain standing respectfully in place as the flag and catafalque party dismount?
31:01Would you please remain standing respectfully in place as the flag and catafalque party dismount?
31:17Thank you
31:29Thank you
32:39Our bugler, Craig Farrington, drummer Peter Gunn, the piper was Sue Brandt, our vocalist, Bailey Mackey.
32:47The students were Elsie Day and Hugo Johnson, flag party made up.
32:51Excuse me.
32:52From the 300th Army Cadet Unit, Father Michael O'Brien, Dean Ditchfield with the bell, Shannon Menon for the Welcome to Country, the City of Ballarat Events Team, and of course the Ballarat RSL President, Mr Frank Nuccio.
33:05A reminder, there'll be a march here from 10.30am and a commemorative service at 11am.
33:10There will be public, sorry, the public will be able to lay wreaths at the 11am service.
33:16And you're all invited now to attend the gunfire breakfast from 6.30 until 9.30 at the RSL Club Rooms at the Midland Sports and Services Club on Hines Lane.
33:24If you have trouble with transport, there is a bus going to and from and entry is by just gold coin donation.
33:30Don't forget the Anzac tradition of tour.
33:32It's from 1pm in the Fairways Room in Hines Lane.
33:36I also invite you to inspect the rows of white commemorative crosses adjacent to the cenotaph.
33:40If you have a deceased veteran relative from Ballarat and would like a white cross to be made available for next year's Anzac Day service, please contact the Ballarat RSL.
33:49Thank you for attending the Ballarat Dawn Service this morning to remember those who have sacrificed for us.
33:55Lest we forget.