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MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
SENATOR THE HON. MICHAEL RONALDSON
MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
MINISTER ASSISTING THE PRIME MINISTER FOR THE
CENTENARY OF ANZAC
SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE
13
22April
April2015
2015
VAXXX
VA030
LETTER
LETTERTO
TOTHE
THEEDITOR
EDITOR––COMMEMORATING
COMMEMORATINGTHE
THEANZAC
ANZAC
CENTENARY
CENTENARY
Dear
DearEditor,
Editor,
One
and
New
Onehundred
hundredyears
yearson
onfrom
fromthe
theFirst
FirstWorld
WorldWar
Warand
andthe
thelanding
landingof
ofthe
theAustralia
Australian
and
New
Zealand
– on
thethe
shores
of Gallipoli
in Turkey,
Australians
come
ZealandArmy
ArmyCorps
Corps––the
theAnzacs
ANZACs
– on
shores
of Gallipoli
in Turkey,
Australians
come
together
those
who
have
served
our
country.
togethertotohonour
honourall
allof
those
who
have
served
our
country.
The
their own
Themen
menand
andwomen
womenwho
whoserved
servedininthe
theAustralian
AustralianImperial
ImperialForce
Forcewere,
were by
ordinary
Australians.
admission,
ordinarytoAustralians.
They volunteered
to fight
in the
Empire’s
cause
Empire
andBritish
over the
four years
of war
They volunteered
fight in the service
of the British
and
over
the
four
years
of
war
came
to
be
admired
for
their
deeds
on
battlefields
from
came to be admired for their performance on the battlefields of Gallipoli and the Middle East
Gallipoli
and theFront.
Middle East to the Western Front.
to the Western
AThe
current
focus
of the
Anzac
Centenary
2014-2018
national
programme
is the
centenary
of
current
focus
of the
Anzac
Centenary
2014–2018
national
programme
is the
Gallipoli
the
Gallipoli
campaign,
however,
from
next
year
there
will
also
be
a
focus
on
the
Western
campaign; from next year, attention will turn to the Western Front and the Middle East.
Front and the Middle East.
During the Anzac Centenary, we also commemorate a century of service, encompassing all
The
Anzac
Centenary
national
programme
aimsAustralia
to give all
the opportunity to
wars,
conflicts
and peace
operations
in which
hasAustralians
been involved.
honour the service and sacrifice of all those who have worn our nation’s uniform, including
Themore
Anzac
Centenary
national
aims to give Australians the opportunity to honour
the
than
102,000 who
haveprogramme
lost their lives.
the service and sacrifice of all those who have worn our nation’s uniform, including the more
During
the Anzac
we also
commemorate a century of service, encompassing all
than 102,000
whoCentenary,
have lost their
lives.
wars, conflicts and peace operations in which Australia has been involved.
The Anzac Centenary is also a time to remember the essential contribution of those on the
Centenary
the most
significant
of commemoration
in our
nation’s
history.
home frontiswho
support
and careperiod
for those
in service, and often
face
the loss
or injury of
loved ones.
This is a time to reflect upon the Australian values of mateship, courage, sacrifice, loyalty
and
how
these
values have
endured
in our armed forces
Theresilience,
Centenaryand
is the
most
significant
period
of commemoration
in ourtoday.
nation’s history. It is a
time to reflect upon the Anzac values of mateship, courage, sacrifice, loyalty and resilience,
Itand
is aon
time
honour
the sacrifices
Australian
servicemen
andand
women
andtoday.
to consider our
howtothese
values
are upheldofby
Australia’s
servicemen
women
own role in upholding the legacy of the first Anzacs.
I have recently launched the Anzac Centenary photo app to enable Australians to share
Veterans
and Veterans
Families Counselling across
Service the
(VVCS)
andin
Veterans
Linevisual
images that show
the diversity
of commemorations
world
a lasting
can
be
reached
24
hours
a
day
across
Australia
for
crisis
support
and
free
and
confidential
counselling.
record. Additional Anzac Day resources, including service information and sample
Phone
1800
011
046
(international:
+61
8
8241
4546)
speeches, can be found on the Anzac Portal website.
To help local communities learn more about our wartime history, the Australian Government
is supporting a range of commemorative, educational and cultural initiatives through
programmes such as the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program (ACLGP) and the Anzac
Centenary Public Fund (ACPF).
The ACLGP was created to encourage communities to undertake their own Anzac Centenary
projects. Through this programme, more than 1,640 grants across 150 federal electorates have
been awarded funding to the value of $16.7 million (ex GST).
The ACPF was established to enable the Australian business community and the public to
donate to Anzac Centenary initiatives. More than $17 million has now been donated to the
Public Fund for significant projects associated with the Anzac Centenary, leaving an
enduring legacy for current and future generations of Australians. These projects, nominated
by state and territory governments, include restoration of Hobart’s Soldiers’ Memorial
Avenue; The Borella Ride in the Northern Territory; redevelopment of Victoria’s Shrine of
Remembrance and of the Anzac Memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park.
The Anzac Centenary’s flagship community event, launched by the Prime Minister last
month, is the Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience. This free travelling exhibition uses a mix
of artefacts, audio and film to tell stories of the First World War and Australia’s ensuing
century of service. It will visit 23 locations around Australia starting in September this year.
Finally, ex-service organisations across the country are now finalising preparations for this
year’s Anzac Day dawn services and marches. These annual commemorations are a driving
force in ensuring the Anzac spirit continues, and I encourage every Australian to attend their
local service.
Lest we forget.
Media inquiries: Minister Ronaldson: Mark Lee 02 6277 7820 or 0408 547 381
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Media: 02 6289 6203
Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) and Veterans Line
can be reached 24 hours a day across Australia for crisis support and free and confidential counselling.
Phone 1800 011 046 (international: +61 8 8241 4546)