PLAN YOUR ANZAC DAY
This ANZAC Day, Australians will gather to pay their respects to all who have served in defence of their country.
Since WWI, more than 1.5 million Australians have served or sacrificed in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Commemorating ANZAC Day is a small way to honour their invaluable contribution.
Here’s some essential information to help you plan your ANZAC Day.
ANZAC Day services
ANZAC Day services are free and open to everyone, even if you’re not an RSL Sub Branch member.
To find a service near you, click your state on the map.
ANZAC Day On the ABC
No matter where you are on ANZAC Day, you can commemorate with the ABC and their comprehensive broadcast coverage across ABC Radio, ABC listen app, ABC TV and ABC iview.
Join or host a gunfire breakfast
The gunfire breakfast is a favourite ANZAC Day tradition held after the Dawn Service and before the ANZAC Day march. Veterans and – in many cases – members of the community are welcome. See if your local RSL Sub Branch is hosting a gunfire breakfast, or host your own.
Bake ANZAC biscuits
Whether you like them chewy or crunchy, it’s hard to beat freshly baked ANZAC biscuits. Give our tried-and-true recipe a go.
Donate to the ANZAC appeal
The ANZAC Appeal supports veterans and their families in times of need. To support the ANZAC Appeal, buy a badge from RSL Sub Branches and volunteers or through Woolworths and Officeworks stores nationally, or donate securely online.
How will you commemorate ANZAC Day?
On ANZAC Day, we invite you to commemorate in a way that is meaningful to you.
Attend an RSL Sub Branch service, take a quiet moment to reflect at home or donate to the ANZAC Appeal, and help keep the ANZACs’ legacy alive.
Lest we forget.
The ANZAC Day Dawn Service starts at different times in different states. For more details, please click your state on the map.
Since WWI, ANZAC Day marches have allowed communities to come together and publicly acknowledge those who served or sacrificed.
ANZAC Day marches were traditionally for veterans who saw active service. However, many of today’s marches also include current ADF personnel, cadets, family/descendants of current or former service people, veterans of Commonwealth or allied forces, ex-service and emergency services groups, and youth/community groups.
Please be aware of any march guidelines, which outline who can march and vary for different events.
If you wish to march, you’ll likely need to register in advance. Generally, however, anyone can attend a march as a spectator without registering.
For details on a particular ANZAC Day march, please consult the RSL in your state or contact the nearest RSL Sub Branch.
Policies and protocols apply to the wearing of medals at ANZAC Day and other events.
These are outlined in full at pmc.gov.au/publications/wearing-awards and rslaustralia.org/rsl-protocols, but you’ll find a quick summary below.
Who can wear medals?
Under law, service medals and other decorations may only be worn by:
- the person to whom those decorations were awarded
- a family member of the above, if the above is deceased.
Can I wear replica medals?
There are no implications resulting from wearing replicas of medals to which a person is entitled. Many serving and ex-service individuals prefer to wear replicas to keep their originals protected from loss or damage.
According to the Department of Defence, the child of a current serving member may choose to wear a set of miniature replica medals of their parent’s for special occasions, such as ANZAC Day. These medals must be worn on their right breast (see below).
How to wear medals (or replicas)
If the medals were awarded to you
- Wear your medals/replicas on the left breast of your jacket, shirt or dress.
- You may also wear a deceased relative’s medals/replicas on the right breast (see more below).
- Current serving members should wear their medals in accordance with their Service dress manual.
If the medals were awarded to your relative
- Wear the medals (or replicas) on the right breast of your jacket, shirt or dress.
- Only one relative of a deceased veteran may wear one full set of the veteran’s medals/replicas at any one time.
- It’s considered inappropriate to wear the medals/replicas of more than one deceased relative at one time.
Order of wearing medals
Australian honours and awards must be worn in the correct order of precedence determined by Australia’s Governor-General. For full details, please read the Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.
Rosemary also symbolises remembrance and, being native to the Gallipoli peninsula, has special significance to ANZAC Day. Rosemary is often worn on ANZAC Day, and sometimes Remembrance Day, to honour those who served.
On ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, it’s acceptable to wear a poppy, sprig of rosemary, or both. Most people pin it near their heart (e.g. on their left lapel) or secure it in place with medals.
Poppies or rosemary sprigs are often distributed by RSL Sub Branches at commemorative services.
Yes. RSL Sub Branches are always looking for volunteers to help out – both on ANZAC Day and throughout the year. Find your nearest Sub Branch and get in touch.
