Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA021
Wednesday 15 April 2009
ANZAC DAY ON THE WESTERN FRONT – VETS AFFAIRS MINISTER TO
REPRESENT AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, and the French Secretary of State for Defence
and Veterans’ Affairs, Mr Jean Marie Bockel, will attend the Western Front Anzac Day Dawn
Service in honour of the Australians who served in France during the First World War.
While in Europe, Mr Griffin will also hold bilateral discussions with Mr Bockel, the UK Under
Secretary of State for Defence, Minister for Veterans, Mr Kevan Jones, and meet with the
Flemish Minister-President, Kris Peeters, in Belgium. Mr Griffin will also meet with local French
authorities to progress the commemoration of Australian service on the Western Front.
Mr Griffin said that plans for the Australian Government’s Anzac Day Dawn Service, to be held
at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, were well underway.
“Some 295,000 Australians served on the Western Front during the First World War. Australia
suffered its greatest losses on the bloodied battlefields of the Western Front – more than 46,000
Australians perished here and the Anzac Day service at the Australian National Memorial
especially honours their sacrifice,” said Mr Griffin.
“Australians in Europe are invited to the Dawn Service and to join commemorations in the
region on Anzac Day. Each year, the villages of Villers-Bretonneux and Bullecourt honour the
Australian diggers who defended their communities more than 90 years ago and we can repay
that respect by joining them at their local Anzac Day ceremonies.”
Anzac Day Dawn Services will also be held at historically significant locations across the world
including in Sandakan in Malaysia, Hellfire Pass in Thailand, the Kokoda Track in Papua New
Guinea as well as the birthplace of the Anzac legend, Gallipoli, Turkey.
The Australian Government has been working closely with Turkish and New Zealand authorities
in planning for the 95th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings next year, and centenary in 2015.
Australians interested in overseas Anzac Day ceremonies should visit the Department of
Editors/Producers note: The Minister is available for interviews in the lead up to Anzac Day,
please contact Laura Ryan via email laura.ryan@dva.gov.au or phone 0437 863 109 to arrange.
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
NEWS 
