Crowds gather at an Austinmer Anzac Day dawn service. Photo: Kirk Gilmour.
Anzac Day is an opportunity to honour all those who have served their country in peacetime and in conflicts, particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Services and marches will be held in the Illawarra from the north to the south, with some being held before Anzac Day on Friday 25 April.
City of Wollongong RSL sub-Branch president John Sperring is encouraging the community to rally around Australia’s most significant day.
“Anzac Day is an opportunity to commemorate the sacrifice of veterans which has shaped our country that we love and enjoy today,” he said.
“There is nothing that makes me more proud to be Australian and to see families turn out in droves to share in the commemorative events.”
The day marks the anniversary of the start of the first major military campaign fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during World War I.
On 25 April 1915, those soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. They became known as the Anzacs.
The Anzacs landed on Gallipoli and met fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. Their plan to knock Turkiye out of the war quickly became a stalemate and the campaign dragged on for eight months.
At the end of 1915, the allied forces were evacuated. Both sides suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. More than 8000 Australian soldiers were killed.
On Anzac Day, commemorative services are held at war memorials at dawn – the time of the original landing in Gallipoli.
Illawarra services and marches
Saturday 19 April
- Jamberoo march, 10:30 am at the RSL Hall, along Allowrie Street to the memorial in front of Jamberoo School of Arts building
- George Cross Falcons Community Centre, 25 Lake Avenue, Cringila, 11 am service.
Sunday 20 April
- Kiama Anglican Church, Terralong Street, 8 am service
- Warilla RSL, 2 Booth Street, Lake Illawarra, 10 am service.
Friday 25 April (Anzac Day)
- Wollongong City Anzac Day dawn service: 5 am, MacCabe Park Cenotaph, Church Street
- City of Wollongong march: 10 am, start from Crown Street Mall into Kembla Street, Burelli Street, Church Street to the Cenotaph
- Albion Park RSL: 4:20 am march followed by service at 4:30 am
- Corrimal RSL march: 5:25 am, start from Corrimal RSL Memorial Club towards Anzac Grove along Princes Highway
- Woonona-Bulli RSL Memorial Club service: 5:30 am
- Stanwell Tops memorial service: 10 am, Stanwell Tops War Memorial Park, Stonehaven Road
- Helensburgh RSL: 5:45 am, Charles Harper Park Memorial
- Corrimal: 6 am, Anzac Grove, Memorial Park, Railway Street
- Coledale RSL: 6 am, Coledale RSL Club, Lawrence Hargrave Drive
- Austinmer/Thirroul RSL: 6 am, cenotaph at Austinmer Beach, Lawrence Hargrave Drive
- Thirroul: 6 am, cenotaph at William Woodward Memorial Park, Lawrence Hargrave Drive
- Port Kembla: 6 am, Port Kembla Memorial, corner Allan Street and Military Road
- Dapto: 6 am, Dapto War Memorial, Dapto Railway Station
- Windang Club Memorial Service: 7:45 am, Club Windang Cenotaph, Judbooley Parade. March assembles at 7:30 am at Lake Illawarra Hotel to lead off at 7:45 am, proceeding to the club cenotaph for the service.
- Shellharbour City Memorial, Harrison Park, Memorial Drive and Minga Avenue: 7:35 to 8:30 am. The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) will conduct a flyover during the service. The service will also be available via livestream on the Shellharbour City Council Facebook page
- Albion Park RSL Club, Tongarra Road: Assemble for march at 4:20 am, service at 4:30 am. Free breakfast after the service from 5 am. Bus leaves for the main Shellharbour service at 7 am
- Warilla RSL: 6 am service at Shellharbour Village war memorial, Caroline Chisholm Park, Atchison Street
- Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club: March at 9:45 am from main entrance of carpark in Jason Avenue, Barrack Heights; 10 am service at club cenotaph.
- Blowhole Point: 5 am dawn service
- Kiama: March, 10 am opposite the Old Council Chambers on Manning Street, into Terralong Street to the Memorial Arch for the service
- Kiama Bowling Club: 12:30 pm service
- Gerringong: 6 am service, eastern end of Belinda Street
- Gerringong Bowling Club: 11 am service
- Gerroa Boat Fisherman’s Club: 7:30 am service.
