Recognise and Remember This ANZAC Day | Kiaora Place

Anzac Day is one of our most important holidays and after several years of Covid interruptions and restrictions, activities and services will be resuming in full force this year.

While there are no longer any surviving veterans of the original Anzac conflict, what still strikes a chord about Anzac Day is how the soldiers handled themselves – displaying friendship, courage and perseverance that Australians of all ages and backgrounds can look up to and admire.

Here’s some ideas on how to recognise and remember the Anzac spirit on 25 April.

Attend a service

The Dawn Service is undoubtedly the most famous Anzac Day tradition. Wake up early and take a trip to the city to commemorate military veterans at the Cenotaph in Martin Place and be there as the bugle signals the sunrise.

Later in the morning, the Anzac Day Parade starts with serving personnel, veterans and their families marching through Sydney's CBD towards the Anzac War Memorial in Hyde Park, where the Commemorative Service commences at 12.30pm.

If you’re in the eastern suburbs, and looking for a way to pay tribute closer to home, head down to the Cenotaph at Steyne Park on the corner of Bay and William Streets, Double Bay. The ceremony starts at 9.00am and visitors are welcome to lay a wreath and spend time reflecting and paying tribute to the men and women who served the country in conflict and peacekeeping missions.

RSL NSW has the official Anzac Day program and full details of how to participate on its website.

Share stories

Read and share personal stories through World War 1 and 2 Remembered and the Local History Digital Archive on the Woollahra Libraries website. These resources are dedicated to local men and women who volunteered to serve in war, and to those who gave their support from the home front.

Although the library is closed on Anzac Day, children who want to learn more about the importance of Anzac Day can check out Story Box Library's Anzac Day collection, which features online stories read by well-known Australians. It also has activity ideas for all age groups. Members of Woollahra Libraries can easily access Story Box Library by downloading the app from the App Store or Google Play and selecting "Log in with library access”.

Bake some Anzac biscuits

On Anzac day it’s time to tuck away the Tim Tams and get stuck into our national treat, the Anzac Biscuit. They’re the buttery, oaty biscuits with a flavour that everyone loves.

As the story goes, Anzac Biscuits originated in World War 1 when families at home would send them to Australian and New Zealand soldiers fighting overseas. The oats gave them a sturdy texture and a longer shelf life which was perfect for shipping and preserving.

Is it better to bake or buy your Anzac Biscuits? Either way works – you can stock up on a family pack at your local Woolworths or if you love freshly-made biscuits that you can serve warm, look no further than these easy recipes:

• Women’s Weekly confidently calls this one “the best Anzac Biscuit recipe of all time”.
  
  
• Donna Hay’s Anzac Biscuits are big on crunch while still deliciously chewy inside.
  
  
• Bon Appétit shares its spin on the iconic Anzac treat here.

If you have leftovers, it’s good to know they last for up to two weeks in an airtight container. You can also process them into a dessert topping, crush and mix them with melted butter to use as the base of a cheesecake or sprinkle them over ice cream.

Raise a glass

On Anzac Day, raise a glass of your favourite tipple (alcohol-free is also fine) at your backyard barbecue, at the local pub or over a meal at your favourite local restaurant.

Dan Murphy’s has something for everyone, from the best home brewed lagers to the finest Australian and New Zealand wines.

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