ANZAC Day Dawn Services
2023 onwards

The annual Surrey Hills ANZAC Day Dawn Service has been held in Surrey Gardens since 2015, when our Association decided to honour the service men and women who fought in the First World War. Dawn services were held in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 which represented the centennial commemoration of World War I (1914-1918). The service was so highly valued the decision was made to continue and our Association welcomed the assistance of others to co-organise the event. This year we thank the Rotary Club of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills and the Surrey Hills Historical Society for their assistance.

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Since its inception, the focus of our service has been on the involvement of young people and this continues to this day. This year, Boroondara Young Citizen of the Year Award recipients Mike and Ben Zhou were guest speakers, students from four local schools recited speeches and laid wreaths, we welcomed back Benji Sametz our trumpet player, and for the first time, we had a young piper play.

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Whilst we reflect and pay our respects to all those who have served and currently serve in time of war and in war-like conflict, we also like to consider our local history. This year’s theme ‘Untold Stories of the Shrine’ highlighted stories of some of the young people from the local community who are listed on the Shrine’s honour board and who served in the First World War. Also mentioned were the people who worked to create and maintain the Shrine as a permanent memorial to those who served.

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Our Association, the Rotary Club of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills and the Surrey Hills Historical Society, would like to thank all those that participated, attended, supported and sponsored this year’s Surrey Hills ANZAC Day Dawn Service. We would especially like to acknowledge and thank Boroondara City Council, Navy Health, Bendigo Bank, Ross Hunt Real Estate, George Petrou Design, and Red Rooster.

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This year's speeches can be found here

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