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Most Australians genuinely believe of the great imperialistic overreach at Anzac Day, when Australians were cannon fodder for imperialistic ambition, is a celebration of freedom and heroism not subservient stupidity. Anzac Day Falls on Oliver Cromwell's birthday. Freedom is worth fighting for. But finding it is rare.

A 16-year-old boy will appear in a Sydney court later today charged with planning a terrorist attack at a Sydney Anzac Day event. Counter terrorism police arrested the teenager in his home in Auburn, in Sydney’s west, yesterday afternoon. NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the age of the suspect was concerning. “Now, the age of the individual is of significant concern. Sixteen years of age. A boy,” NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told reporters this morning. Mr Scipione said the boy had been charged with one count of acts in preparation or planning a terrorist act. The offence carries...

Counterterrorism police have alleged two of the five men they arrested in an operation in Melbourne were planning an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack on an Anzac Day ceremony. The two men, an 18-year-old Hallam man and an 18-year-old Hampton Park man, were arrested this morning during a major joint counterterrorism team operation. Another man was arrested for weapons offences and two other men were in custody assisting police with their enquiries, after seven search warrants were executed as part of Operation Rising. The Australian Federal Police said they believed the two 18-year-olds were plotting an attack to take place on...

There are 3 ½ days when almost all shops are required to be closed under the Shop Trading Hours Repeal Act 1990. These days are: Christmas Day Good Friday Easter Sunday; and ANZAC Day, until 1.00 pm on 25 April.

Australians have gathered at Anzac Day ceremonies around the world to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, and pay their respects to the men and women who have served and died in war. In Gallipoli, thousands made the pilgrimage to attend services at Anzac Cove and Lone Pine. With many people holding off until next year's ticketed centenary services, numbers were down with just under 5,000 in attendance at Anzac Cove. People also gathered at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux in France to pay their respects. Back in Australia, dawn services were held around the country, with...

~ The FReeper Canteen presents…. ~ ANZAC DAY, April 25th Last Post - click Come home! Come home! The last post is sounding for you to hear. All good soldiers know very well there is nothing to fear while they do what is right, and forget all the worries they have met in their duties through the year. A soldier cannot always be great, but he can be a gentleman and he can be a right good pal to his comrades in his squad. So all you soldiers listen to this - Deal fair by all and you’ll never...

4/28/2010 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Airmen from six partner nations gathered at the memorial plaza for a dawn service to observe Australian and New Zealand Army Corps Day April 25 here. A national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day is commemorated April 25 every year by both countries to honor members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought in Turkey during World War I. Much like Memorial Day in the United States, ANZAC Day pays tribute to all who have served in military operations for their country. Royal Australian Air Force Squadron...

ANZAC Day is the most important day of the year in Australia, when we pause to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. One song covers the range of feeling from that first fateful morning in 1915 when our soldiers waded ashore, untried, and then proved themselves. That song at the same time also indicates the futility of War in general through the eyes of the narrator. 'The Band Played Waltzing Matilda' is a touching song that does all things for all people.

An old military truck has ploughed into a group of marchers at Melbourne's Anzac Day parade after a suspected mechanical fault. Three Sri Lankan ex-servicemen aged in their 70s and 80s have been injured in the crash. The crash happened around 12:30pm along the route the parade through the city. Witnesses say a World War II era truck taking part in the parade surged forward suddenly. The truck crashed into a group of veterans that were marching in front. The three injured men are part of the Ceylon ex-serviceman's association. Witness say the scene was horrific, with four or five...

Today is a special day in Australia, the most solemn day on our Calendar in fact. It is ANZAC Day, the day we recognise all those veterans who gave us the freedom we have today. This day was specially selected because at 4.15AM, at Dawn on the morning of this day in 1915, an Australian and New Zealand Corps came ashore under intense fire at a small cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula, now known forever as ANZAC Cove. The campaign may have been a disaster but this was the first time Australians had fought as an Australian entity, and they...

NSW is under pressure to ban children from marching alongside their fathers and grandfathers in the Anzac Day parade because they outnumber veterans by almost seven-to-one. New rules introduced by Brisbane's Anzac Day organisers for this year's main march bar the descendants of Anzacs from participating to "preserve the dignity" of the event. Organisers said the change was necessary to avoid the march becoming like Sydney's parade last year. "Last year in Sydney there were 1000 World War II veterans and 7000 descendants. It got to the stage where the veterans can't be recognised for the descendants," said Queensland committee...

THE plumed slouch hat of the Australian Light Horseman returned to the battlefields of France after 90 years yesterday to mark a new era of Anzac Day celebrations. This first dawn service to remember the Australian contribution to the war on the Western Front in northern France, drew a crowd of more than 4000 and was followed by a boisterous parade through the streets of Villers-Bretonneux, the site of a decisive Australian victory on April 25, 1918. As dark descended on Anzac Day commemorations in Australia, on the other side of the world, three riders in the uniforms of the...

NEW Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma have dedicated a statue of a New Zealand soldier on Sydney's Anzac Bridge, at a ceremony attended by Australian and New Zealand war veterans. An Anzac military guard marched across Anzac Bridge, which had been cleared of traffic, to the south-western section of the bridge as part of the ceremony. The statue of the World War I soldier faces across the bridge towards the statue of an Australian digger, which was unveiled on the northern side of the bridge when it was renamed on April 25, 2000.

I've just returned from my local March and service and am watching the main Melbourne March on television. I thought some people here might appreciate seeing these images.

THE Returned Services League has called for military personnel and veterans carry to be allowed to carry their medals with them on commercial flights. RSL national president Major General Bill Crews said he knew of at least one incident in which a veteran was told by airport security he could not bring medals on board an aircraft because of the security risk. Maj-Gen Crews said airports should show more trust. "Airport security and the government in particular should recognise that people carrying medals are those whose own service is distinguished by those medals and who have the trust of the...

Sir - do you mind if I shed a tear I swear it’s the first time since this time last year My spine is a tingle - my throat is all dry As I stand to attention for all those who died I watch the flag dancing half way down the pole That damn bugle player sends chills to my soul I feel the pride and the sorrow - there’s nothing the same As standing to attention on ANZAC Day So Sir - on behalf of the young and the free Will you take a message when you finally do...

A BAGPIPE plays Waltzing Matilda and the old soldiers step forward again. The streets are lined with people clapping, although their eyes search the ranks for veterans, rather than those who march to honour them. From Byron Bay to Baghdad, it was a day for memories and mateship, hymns and morning prayer, but also a celebration of what it is to be Australian. As the first rays of sun struggled to break through the clouds over Australia's most easterly point at Byron Bay, World War II veteran Ken Rogers, 85, traded memories with Vietnam veteran David Lawrence, 71. Mr Rogers...

THOUSANDS of people have braved a wet morning around the nation to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country at the Anzac Day dawn service. Masses assembled at the Cenotaph at Martin Place in Sydney just before 4.30am (AEST) for the ceremony to mark the ill-fated landing at Gallipoli 92 years ago. War veterans were in attendance, but the early morning crowd was a predominantly young one. The crowd stood huddled beneath a sea of umbrellas as the sometimes heavy rain fell throughout the service. Naval Commander of Australia, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas, said the Anzac story...

Today is ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand. They day our nations honour our war dead. The most sacred and holy day in our National calendars. The Australian has put together a series of multimedia pieces in commemoration of the day. The Anzacs, Villers-Brettoneux, Mapping the Battle (The Second Battle of Villers-Brettoneux), Australian Actions, WWI Victoria Cross, and Gallipoli. I suspect some people might find them interesting.

CYCLONE Monica has forced the cancellation of Darwin's Anzac Day dawn service and march. The maximum strength, category five cyclone is about 550km east, north-east of Darwin and should reach Arnhem Land's west coast later today. Monica, which has winds of up to 350km/h at its core, is expected to reach Darwin and the Tiwi Islands by tomorrow. The cyclone has prompted the Darwin RSL to announce tomorrow's Anzac Day dawn service will be cancelled along with the 10am (AEST) march through Darwin's main streets. Darwin RSL manager Mussy Shaw today said the decision was made to protect both marchers...