There is no doubt that ANZAC Day 2020 in Australia and New Zealand will be considerably different to how people are used to commemorating the day, due to the impacts of COVID-19 and strict social distancing rules.
For the first time in over 100 years, traditional dawn services will no longer be the place to remember and respect, nor will pubs be a bustling gathering of two-up and mateship.
April 25 represents the day that Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli in 1915 during the first world war. The day was profoundly important for the soldiers and those at home and left a powerful legacy for Australians generations to come. From there, the ANZAC legend was born and is an important part of the country's identity today. The day now serves to commemorate every Australian and New Zealand soldier whom we have lost to peacekeeping and military operations over the years.
This year, Australians will have to adapt and make the best of the situation so we can ensure that ANZAC service men and women are acknowledged and remembered – and there are many ways to do so. Australians thrive on mateship and camaraderie and this, no doubt, will be the year our true ANZAC spirit is embraced— social distance style!
We did the research for you so you can enjoy the day! Here are some of the ways you can participate in ANZAC Day 2020.
A virtual dawn service
The Australian War Memorial will be holding a commemorative service at 5:30 AM (AEST) which will be broadcast live nationally on the ABC channel. It will be led by the Governor General and PM Scott Morrison.
A moment of silence
At 6 AM on April 25, Australians are being encouraged to unite and remember service men and women by standing, facing east, at the end of their driveways, balconies or simply in the living room for a moment of silence. We can still be together to remember, even while we are apart. The Returned and Services League (RSL) encourages you to light a candle for this moment as we light up the dawn.
Want a way to get your kids involved? Honour our heroes!
The Ku-Ring-Gai Council in New South Wales is encouraging children to support active or current servicemen on deployment as well as honouring our ANZAC soldiers by writing a story, poem, letter or artwork. These can be uploaded to Instagram with the hashtags #ANZACKURINGGAI and #ANZACSPIRIT or emailed to events@kmc.nsw.gov.au.
All submissions will be forwarded to the Australian Defence Force and circulated to deployed service personnel after ANZAC Day.
Bake, bake, bake!
Baking ANZAC biscuits with your family is a time-honoured tradition to mark the country's national day of remembrance. The delicious biscuits were sent by soldiers wives’ during WW1. Click here for the perfect recipe!
Let us know on social media how you are remembering by using the hashtag #HomeExchangersAtHome.
