Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA097
Thursday, 9 October 2008
2008 MARKS 90th ANNIVERSARY OF ARMISTICE
AUSTRALIAN SERVICES ON WESTERN FRONT
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced that in addition to the many services in
Australia, the Australian Government will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armistice with a
Remembrance Day service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, in France.
Mr Griffin said he hoped that many Australians would attend a Remembrance Day service either in
Australia or overseas to remember the service and sacrifice of the more than 415,000 Australians who
served during the First World War.
“More than 46,000 of the 60,000 Australians who died in the First World War lost their lives on the
battlefields of the Western Front in France and Belgium.
“The end of the war on 11 November 1918 brought relief and rejoicing; but the joy was tempered by the
terrible cost in human lives and suffering to Australia and many other nations.
“On this key 90th anniversary, it is appropriate that the Australian Government holds a service at Villers-
Bretonneux, where the names of nearly 11,000 of our dead from the battlefields of France with no known
grave are forever inscribed,” Mr Griffin said.
Mr Griffin said the service would begin at 10:15 am on Tuesday, 11 November.
The Remembrance Day service at Villers-Bretonneux will be preceded by the re-dedication of the
memorial at the Australian Corps Memorial Park, Le Hamel, at 3pm on Saturday, 8 November.
Mr Griffin said the Le Hamel memorial commemorated the service of the Australian Corps through its
actions at Le Hamel on 4 July 1918. In this battle, the tactics very successfully applied by General Sir
John Monash foreshadowed those used in larger offensives that began in August 1918 and led to the
Allied victory.
“The re-dedication will mark the completion of extensive work funded by the Government to repair
damage caused by the deterioration of the memorial,” Mr Griffin said.
For more information on the November events in France and other Remembrance Day services around
Editors note: a list of Remembrance Day services in each state and territory is attached.
Media inquiries: Laura Ryan 0437 863 109
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a
week on 1800 011 046.
To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
11 NOVEMBER REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONIES IN AUSTRALIA
Australian Capital Territory
Event:
National Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.15am. Please arrive by 10.00am.
Venue:
Parade Ground, Australian War Memorial
Details:
Details of the ceremony will be posted on the Australian War Memorial website,
Contact:
The Australian War Memorial Events and Ceremonies section, (02) 62434211 or
ceremony@awm.gov.au
New South Wales
Sydney
Event:
Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10:48am. Please arrive by 10:15am
Venue:
Cenotaph, Martin Place, Sydney
Contact:
Department of Premier and Cabinet, (02) 9513 2041 or rebecca.gelao@dpc.nsw.gov.au
Newcastle
Event:
Remembrance Day Service
Time:
Ceremony commences at 11.00am. Please arrive by 10.50am
Venue:
Civic Park, Newcastle (Corner King & Auckland Streets)
Contact:
Mr Charlie McGregor JP, Council Secretary, (02) 4968 3743 or charles@mysoul.com.au
Wollongong
Event:
90th Anniversary Remembrance Day Service
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.45am. Please arrive by 10.30am
Venue:
Wollongong City Cenotaph, Church St, Wollongong
Contact:
Mr Joe Davidson, (02) 4225 9818 or gongrsl@wollongong.hotkey.net.au
Northern Territory
Darwin
Event:
Remembrance Day Service
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.45am. Please arrive by 10.30am
Venue:
Cenotaph, Bicentennial Park, off Esplanade between Herbert Street and Knuckey Street
Alice Springs
Event:
Remembrance Day Service
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.45am. Please arrive by 10.30am
Venue:
Anzac Hill, Alice Springs
Katherine
Event:
Remembrance Day Service
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.45am. Please arrive by 10.30am
Venue:
O'Shea Park, Stuart Highway and O'Shea Terrace
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
Queensland
Brisbane
Event:
National Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.40am.
Venue:
Shrine of Remembrance, Ann Street, Brisbane
Details:
Details of the ceremony will be posted on the RSL website at www.rslqld.org.
Contact:
Connie Millar, Public Relations Officer, (07) 3634 9410 or connie.millar@rslqld.org
Cairns
Event:
Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.40am.
Venue:
Cairns Cenotaph, opposite the RSL club on the Esplanade
Contact:
RSL Townsville, (07) 4759 9529
Townsville
Event:
Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.35am. Please arrive by 10.00am.
Venue:
Cenotaph, ANZAC Park, The Strand
Contact:
RSL Townsville, (07) 4759 9529
South Australia
Adelaide
Event:
Ceremony commemorating the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice
Time:
9.45am - unveiling of the 'Atatürk Tribute' Monument
10.15am - dedication of the Eternal Flame Memorial
10.45am - ceremony of Remembrance
Venue:
Cross of Sacrifice, Pennington Garden, King William Road, Adelaide
Victoria
Melbourne
Event:
Remembrance Day Commemoration Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.20am with the lowering of the flag and will finish by 11.20am
Venue:
Forecourt of the Shrine of Remembrance
Contact:
The Shrine of Remembrance, (03) 9654 8415 or reception@shrine.org.au
Event:
Association Des Anciens Combattants Francais de Victoria Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 11.20am.
Venue:
Sanctuary of the Shrine of Remembrance.
Contact
The Shrine of Remembrance, (03) 9654 8415 or reception@shrine.org.au
The Main Sanctuary doors of the Shrine of Remembrance will be opened 11.55 - 12.05 to allow the
public to see the sun shine on the inner sanctum. Due to daylight saving this event occurs an hour after
the hour of remembrance.
Bendigo
Event:
2008 Remembrance Day Commemoration
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.50am.
Venue:
Cenotaph, Pall Mall
Contact:
Bendigo RSL, (03) 5442 4013
Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
Western Australia
Perth
Event:
State Remembrance Day Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.30am
Venue:
State War Memorial Precinct
Details:
Contact:
State RSL, (08) 9287 3799, rslwahq@iinet.net.au
Albany
Event:
Remembrance Day Ceremony
Time:
10.20am
Venue:
War Memorial, corner York and Peels Place, Albany
Contact:
Mr Laurie Fraser MBE, President Albany Sub Branch RSL (08) 9844 4695
Fremantle
Event:
Remembrance Day Ceremony
Time:
10.30am
Venue:
Monument Hill Fremantle
Details:
Contact:
City of Fremantle, Corporate Events, (08) 9432 9830
Tasmania
Hobart
Event:
Remembrance Day Ceremony
Time:
Ceremony commences at 10.00am
Venue:
Hobart War Memorial (Cenotaph), Queens Domain, Hobart
Details:
Ceremony will commence with a parade of First World War unit banners.
Contact:
Noelene Singline, Secretary RSL State Headquarters Tasmania (03) 6224 0881
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