Thousands of Australians gathered at The Strand in Townsville for the Anzac Day march, joining commemorations from regional towns to capital cities across the nation. The event honored the men and women who have served in Australia's defence forces, with solemn ceremonies and community tributes.
In South Australia, a new memorial honoring animals that served in war was unveiled in Port Broughton. The sculpture, called 'the war horse,' depicts a horse drinking from a digger's hat and was adorned with purple poppies. Created by mechanic-turned-sculptor Wayne Dennis, the piece took 12 months to complete, and the local council is seeking a permanent location for it.
Glenn Marskell, a veteran, has been driving his car covered in commemorations across Australia for nearly a decade to raise awareness for veterans. He noted that the Renmark service had the largest turnout he had ever seen at a regional Anzac event, with hundreds attending.
In Warragul, hundreds packed the square for the Anzac Day service, which included speeches from former and current service members. President of the Warragul RSL, Lynn Mizen, expressed pride in the community turnout and the presence of young people learning about Australia's history.
Services in Western Australia's Kimberley region were also well attended. In Broome, hundreds commemorated Anzac Day at Bedford Park, with resident Richard Willmott wearing his father's medals alongside his own. Former SAS member Bob Alexander praised the involvement of school children in preserving the history of service.
