The traditional Anzac ideals of courage, endurance and mateship are still as relevant today as they were on 25 April 1915 when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
It was the start of a campaign that lasted eight months and resulted in some 25,000 Australian casualties, including 8,700 killed or subsequently died of wounds or disease.
On Tuesday 25 April, there are numerous services and marches throughout Newcastle and the Hunter Valley to pay homage to the brave men and women who risked their lives.
Lest we forget!
Anzac Day 2023
Newcastle
NEWCASTLE (Dawn Service): The Dawn Service will begin at 5am at Camp Shortland and includes a band, bugler, bagpipers and choir. It’ll conclude at 6am with a four-gun Salute to the Fallen by the guns at Fort Scratchley. In keeping with tradition, there will be a controlled blackout of the site prior to the Dawn Service. Attendees are advised to bring a torch, warm clothing and wet weather protection. Large LCD outdoor screens will provide coverage of the Dawn Service.
NEWCASTLE (Hunter Street March): Under police direction, the March will step-off at 9.15am at the corner of Hunter and Perkins Streets, and proceed south along Perkins Street, turning right into King Street, proceeding west along King Street, then left into Auckland Street to halt and disband into Civic Park. Road closures will be in place along the route to ensure the safe passage of the parade. Vehicle access to and from properties along the March route will not be permitted during the road closures. Residents or businesses are advised to move their vehicles before the closures take effect.
NEWCASTLE (Anzac Day United Commemoration Service): The Newcastle Anzac Day United Commemoration Service is a combined faith service, with everyone welcome. It will take place at the Cenotaph in Civic Park from 10am. The RAAF Williamtown will conduct a Flyover at 10am sharp, too.
NEWCASTLE (Fort Scratchley Firing of the Guns and Open Day): A four-gun Salute to the Fallen by the 25 Pound Field Gun at Fort Scratchley will be conducted at the conclusion of the Dawn Service at approximately 6am, representing the Navy, Army, Air Force and ANZAC. At 1pm and 3pm, the firing by the historic 25 Pound Field Gun that fired on the Japanese submarine on 8 June 1942. The Fort Scratchley Historic 150cm Carbon Arc Search Light will light up Nobbys Beach, Nobbys Lighthouse and Christ Church Cathedral prior to the start of the Dawn Service.
ADAMSTOWN: The Merewether-Hamilton-Adamstown RSL Sub-Branch will stage the Adamstown Service at the World War 1 Memorial, 282 Brunker Road, from 8.30am. There will be no march this year.
BERESFIELD: A Dawn Service will take place from 5.40am at the Beresfield Community War Memorial, corner of Anderson Drive and Allandale Street.
COOKS HILL: A service is scheduled for 7.30am at the Cooks Hill Surf Life Saving Club Great War Memorial.
HAMILTON: The Merewether-Hamilton-Adamstown RSL Sub-Branch will host the Hamilton Service at the Gregson Park War Memorial, corner of Tudor and Steel streets, at 6am. The Hamilton Public School P & C Association oversee a breakfast following the ceremony in the school grounds (gold coin donation), community welcome.
LAMBTON: A service will take place from 11am at the Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre.
MEREWETHER: The Merewether-Hamilton-Adamstown RSL Sub-Branch will stage the Merewether Service at the Mitchell Park Memorial Gates, Mitchell Street, at the new start time of 7am.
SHORTLAND: Dawn service will be conducted at 5.30am in Memorial Garden on Conmurra Crescent followed by breakfast and refreshments.
STOCKTON: A March leaves Club Stockton at 5.15am, via Clyde and Mitchell streets, in time for the Dawn Service at 5.45am. The main service is scheduled from 8.45am at the Rawson Park Cenotaph.
WALLSEND: The March departs at 5am, for a 5.15am service at the Wallsend Cenotaph.
Lake Macquarie
BELMONT: Form-up takes place at 9.30am, with the March starting from High Street at 9.45am, followed by a 10am service at Cullen Park.
CARDIFF: The March steps off from the corner of Macquarie and Main roads at 4.50am. The Dawn Service will start at 5am.
CATHERINE HILL BAY: The Dawn Service will begin at 6am at Catherine Hill Bay War Memorial on Flowers Drive.
DORA CREEK: The Dawn Service will take place at Neville Thompson Oval from 6am, with a gunfire breakfast at the Dora Creek Workers Club (6.45am). A march at 9.30am will follow with the main service at Neville Thompson Oval at 10am.
DUDLEY: Participants will form-up from 5.20am near the water tower on Banfield Lane, with the March stepping off at 5.45am, followed by a service at the Dudley War Memorial.
PELICAN: March form-up on Piriwal Street, near Bato Street, at 5.50am, with the Dawn Service to begin at Pelican RSL Memorial Park at 6am.
RATHMINES: The March steps off at 12.55pm, with the service to follow at the Catalina War Memorial.
SPEERS POINT: At 5.45am, the March steps off from the Boat Ramp carpark to the rotunda in Speers Point Park. A service is scheduled at 6am. Then, at 7.30am, will head to Anzac Park, Teralba, followed by a free breakfast at the Teralba Bowling Club.
SUGAR VALLEY: The West Wallsend & District Anzac Day Ceremony begins from 9.40am, with the form-up for the March, which steps off at 9.45am. It will be followed by a service at the West Wallsend Workers Club on Carrington Street.
SWANSEA: A Dawn Service will take place at the Swansea RSL Club at 6am. Then, at 10.30am, form-up at McDonald’s and in front of the library as the March steps off at 11am, followed by a service at the Swansea RSL Club.
TERALBA: Form-up on William Street near the Great Northern Hotel at 7.45am, with the March stepping off at 7.50am. Service to follow at Anzac Park.
TORONTO: A Dawn Service will be conducted at Goffet Park at 6am. Then, at 10.40am, form-up on The Boulevarde in front of The Diggers Club before the March steps off at 10.50am. The service will follow at Goffet Park at 11am.
VALENTINE: Form-up at 9.30am, for the start of the March at 10am. A service will follow.
WANGI WANGI: Form-up at 9am, with the March stepping off at 10am. A service will then begin at the Cenotaph in front of Wangi Wangi RSL Club.
Port Stephens
In addition to the regular events on 25 April, there’s also a free Anzac Memorial Exhibition at the Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre. Open daily from 9am to 4pm. The exhibition showcases fascinating war-time memorabilia and will be on show for the remainder of April.
KARUAH: March from 5.50am, Malcolm Road to Tarean Road Memorial Park (road closures: Malcolm Road to Tarean Road), with the Dawn Service taking place between 6am and 7am at Memorial Park.
MEDOWIE: Form-up at 5.45am in readiness for the March at 6am, Ferodale Road to the Medowie Social (road closures: Ferodale Road). A Dawn Service will follow at Medowie Social.
NELSON BAY: The Dawn Service will take place at Apex Park between 5.30am and 6.30am, followed by the March, 10.25am to 10.45am, from the Nelson Bay Bowling Club to Apex Park (road closures: Stockton Street between Dowling Street and Victoria Parade). The main service begins at 10.45am at Apex Park, with a luncheon to follow at West Diggers from noon until 2.30pm.
RAYMOND TERRACE: A March is scheduled from 5.50am on Jacaranda Avenue (road closure: Jacaranda Avenue), with the Dawn Service between 6am and 6.30am at Anzac Park, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at 7am at the Raymond Terrace Bowling Club. The March, from 10.35am until 10.55am, will venture to the War Memorial in Anzac Park via Sturgeon Street, William Street and Port Stephens Street, with the main service from 11am.
SEAHAM: March, 8.50am to 9am, from East Seaham Road to Newline Road (road closures: East Seaham Road to Newline Road), with the main service scheduled for 9am to 9.30am at the Knitting Circle Memorial.
TILLIGERRY PENINSULA: A Dawn Service will take place from 5.45am until 6.45am at the Tilligerry RSL Sports Club Grounds, with the March (9.40am to 10am) from the Avenue of Allies Gateway to the Tilligerry RSL Sports Club Grounds (road closures: Lemon Tree Passage (between Avenue of the Allies and Reliance Boulevarde), followed by the main service (10am to 11am).
Maitland
EAST MAITLAND: The East Maitland RSL sub-Branch will stage its March from the East Maitland War Memorial at 5.20am, with the Dawn Service in William Street at 5.30am. The main ceremony is scheduled for 9.30am (road closures: sections of the New England Highway and William Street at East Maitland will be temporarily closed during the day. The March will start at the East Maitland RSL sub-Branch near the intersection of High Street and the New England Highway (the assembly area) and progress along the New England Highway westbound lane before transferring over to the east bound lane at the intersection with George Street, before continuing to the war memorial near William Street).
MAITLAND: The Dawn Service begins at 5.30am at the World War I Cenotaph in Maitland Park, with the main ceremony scheduled between 11am and noon (road closures: Sections of Maitland Park Accessway, Church Street and Walker Street will be temporarily closed during the day. The March will start at the Church Street car park (the assembly area) and progress south along Church Street to the Cenotaph, where the ceremony will take place). Following the Dawn Service, East Maitland Lions Club will provide a breakfast. Everyone is welcome and all you need is a gold coin donation, which will go directly to the club.
MORPETH: March at 10.50am (assembly to begin at 10.30am) along Swan Street with a service at the Morpeth War Memorial from 11am until noon (road closures: Sections of Swan Street, Northumberland Street and Green Street will be temporarily closed during the day. The March will start at the closed northbound lane of Queens Wharf Road (the assembly area) and progress on Swan Street to the Cenotaph, where the ceremony will take place).
Cessnock
BRANXTON: A Dawn Service will take place at the Branxton Rotunda (John Rose Avenue) from 5.30am, with a Gunfire Breakfast at the Miller Park Hotel (opposite the Branxton Memorial Pool) from 6.15am until 7am. Form-up outside the old Branxton Newsagency at 11am, in readiness for the March at 11.15am. It will then step-off down the New England Highway towards John Rose Avenue, turning at the traffic lights and continuing to the Branxton Rotunda for 11.45am service.
CESSNOCK: A Dawn Service begins at 5.30am at the Cenotaph in TAFE Park, with a Gunfire Breakfast (ticketed event) at the Cessnock Leagues Club afterwards. It will be followed by a post World War II special service at Veterans Memorial Park Aberdare at 9.30am. Form-up for the March at the former Ex-Services Club, opposite Peden Hotel, at 11am, travelling along Vincent Street, Cooper Street and North Avenue to the Cenotaph where a service of Commemoration is scheduled for 11.40am.
GRETA: Dawn Service begins at 5.30am at Greta Cenotaph, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast in Old Greta Courthouse. The March will travel west, from 9.30am, on the New England Highway to the Greta Cenotaph, with the main ceremony at 10am.
KEARSLEY: The community Anzac Day Dawn Service will honour local servicemen and women from the villages of Kearsley, Abernethy and Elrington at the Kearsley Community Hall from 5.30am.
Muswellbrook
DENMAN: The Dawn Service is scheduled for Denman Memorial Park at 6am, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at the Denman RSL Club at 6.30am. The March, at 11.30am, will travel along Ogilvie Street west to Paxton Street to Denman Memorial Park. The main service will start about 11.45am.
MUSWELLBROOK: A Dawn Service will take place at the Muswellbrook Cenotaph, corner of Market Street and New England Highway, from 5.30am. Afterwards, a short service is scheduled for the Commonwealth War Graves portion of Muswellbrook Cemetery then a small ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial at the Upper Hunter Memorial Grove, New England Highway. Gunfire breakfast from 7.30am at the Muswellbrook RSL Club. Participants in the March to form up in Simpson Park in Market Street. The marchers will be directed to their start position in Market Street by marshallers at 10am. The main service will start immediately post-march at the Muswellbrook Cenotaph.
Singleton
SINGLETON: The Singleton RSL sub-Branch, Singleton Council and the School of Infantry are co-hosting commemorations at Burdekin Park, starting with a Dawn Service at 5.30am. Form-up will take place at Ryan Avenue from 9.50am, with the march proceeding across John Street, along Hunter Street and into Burdekin Park in time for the service at 11am.
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