The 25th of April always carries great significance for Veterans communities, both here in Australia, in New Zealand and wherever our troops are serving around the world. The day commemorates ANZAC Day, whose origins stretch back to the original landing at ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula in World War 1.
Each Dawn Service carries its own theme of remembrance, and this year will focus on those from within the Balmain community who made the ultimate sacrifice. The memorial in Loyalty Square contains the names of some 38 service personnel who
lost their lives on the shores of Gallipoli, but throughout the peninsula are records of others who also made the ultimate sacrifice.
Leading the commemoration will be Major Matt McFarland, CSM. Matt is a recently retired Infantry officer who served on multiple deployments with the Australian Defence Force – notably in Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor and he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal in the 2019 Australia Day Honours List. Matt and his wife Carolyn trace their families back to Balmain.
BALMAIN DAWN SERVICE
Loyalty Square, Balmain
25 April, 5.45am
