NSW Veterans Affairs Minister David Elliott has put the call out to people across the state to unite to pay their respects on the centenary of Anzac on Saturday.
He joined the NSW Police, NSW Centenary of Anzac Advisory Council, RSL NSW and the Sydney Anzac Day Dawn Service Trust to encourage the public to consider commemorating the memories of 60,000 fallen Australians close to home.
“This is a day of deep significance to all Australians and a time when we remember the sacrifices they made,” Mr Elliott said.
“There’s a wide range of commemoration services and events being held throughout NSW this Saturday on Anzac Day, and many opportunities for the public to remember the sacrifices made and pay respect to those who have served.
“I encourage people to consider attending a Dawn Service in their local area.
“Services held in towns across the state are important community events which commemorate local history.”
The call came as 100 high school students from 25 schools across NSW set out for Gallipoli to represent NSW at the Centenary of Anzac commemorations in Turkey.
Many of the students are the same age as some of the soldiers that set off to see the world and never returned home.
The teenagers will be join more than 10,000 other Australians and New Zealanders at the Dawn Service.
“I know this diverse group of students will do our state proud,” Mr Elliott said.
The country students are from Emmanuel Anglican College, Ballina; Griffith High School; Hunter River High School; John Edmondson High School, Lisarow; Macintyre High School, Inverell; St Mary MacKillop College, Albury; St Philip's Christian College, Newcastle; Swansea High School;The Canobolas Rural Technology High School, and Tullamore Central School.
The students will return on Monday, April 27.
Visit centenaryofanzac.nsw.gov.au
See our tribute edition, In Honour – 100 years of Anzac, in this week’s The Land.
