Anzac Day Dawn Service

Good morning, Queenslanders, all past and present servicemen and women, and all others here to witness and honour this solemn occasion.

I acknowledge the Original Custodians of the lands around Queensland, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here this morning.

We gather here in the quiet moments before dawn to honour and remember the servicemen and women who have answered the call to defend our nation and way of life, and those who have served in operations to maintain peace.

As the pale light approaches, we reflect on the fragility of life and the sacrifices of those who have willingly served, honouring their selfless commitment to risk their lives for our safety and freedom.

The 25^th of April is no ordinary date. For Australians, certainly, this day is etched into our collective memory.

On this day, 111 years ago, in the stillness before first light, thousands of Australian and New Zealand troops sat crouched in small boats just off the rugged shoreline of Gallipoli—perhaps all too aware this could be a battlefield from which they may not return.

As these Anzacs—members of the newly formed Australian and New Zealand Army Corps—readied themselves for what awaited them on the beach, they could not have envisaged the horrors that would follow, nor that this would also become a defining moment in both our nations’ histories.

The rugged, steep and precarious terrain at what became known as Anzac Cove was unforgiving; the fierce resistance from enemy forces unrelenting; the carnage and suffering unimaginable.

As the sun set on that first day of battle, of the 16,000 Anzacs who landed at Gallipoli that morning, more than 2,000 had lost their lives or been wounded by enemy fire.

And by the end of the eighth month of fighting, more than 8,000 Australians had made the ultimate sacrifice. Thousands more were wounded, and many more who returned home were broken, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually also.

These men—and more than a few boys—were sons, brothers, husbands and fathers who had rendered their service in good faith to our nation.

Today, we renew our vow to never forget those brave soldiers who stepped onto a foreign shore, in the dark and the cold, so that we may live in freedom and safety.  

Their courage, endurance, mateship and fervent sense of duty during this military campaign became the foundation for what we now refer to as the Anzac spirit.  

It represents qualities such as optimism in the face of adversity, resourcefulness in moments of need, resilience in times of despair, and military strength built on unity and a larrikin can-do attitude.

That Anzac spirit finds its expression in all Australian servicemen and women who have answered the call to arms to defend our country since that great and terrible war, in conflicts and peacekeeping missions around the world.

Just as we honour the more than one-hundred-thousand Australians who perished in the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts, and the thousands who were wounded and held captive, on Anzac Day we remember service personnel who have died in training exercises, through accidents, and through illness as a direct result of their time in our military.

Every loss is a tragedy for us all, and we know that for many of our surviving veterans, their service has come at immense cost to their physical and psychological wellbeing. Often described as invisible wounds, these types of traumas can extend suffering into families and onto loved ones.  

Therefore, it is immensely important that today, we also take pause to acknowledge the vital role Defence Force families play in supporting our service personnel—enduring long absences, missed milestones, and the constant awareness their loved one may be placed in harm’s way. We are grateful for their care, compassion, understanding and steadfast support, and we offer our support in return.  

As the Queensland Patron of the Returned and Services League, Legacy and the Australian War Widows, I am proud to support these remarkable organisations, which are committed to helping veterans and their families face their individual and shared challenges.

These, and many other support organisations, create a sense of togetherness and belonging that is essential to the health and wellbeing of our veterans and their families, as they navigate their recovery journeys. I thank them for the compassionate care they provide to our veterans long after their time in uniform has ended.

Queensland is home to thousands of men and women in uniform, having been central to Australia’s Defence posture for more than 150 years.

Today, Australia faces a strategic environment of growing complexity and uncertainty, as tensions persist around the world, reminding us that peace is never guaranteed—it must be protected, sometimes at great cost.

Today, the role of the Australian Defence Force is more important than ever.  

I commend the Australian Defence Force for the constant work of safeguarding our nation—through preparedness, capability, and service at home and abroad. This is especially evident here in Queensland, with its strong ADF communities in Brisbane and Townsville, and in many other towns and regions across our State.  

They are our neighbours—men and women in uniform, and the families who serve alongside them—and their presence strengthens our communities, just as our support strengthens them.

Our servicemen and women stand ready not because they seek conflict, but because they understand the responsibility of safeguarding peace.

They train, they prepare, and they serve so that Australia remains secure and able to support our allies and partners when needed. Whether they are conducting humanitarian operations after natural disasters, supporting our Pacific neighbours, patrolling our northern approaches, or contributing to international missions, their service reflects the same values that defined the Anzacs more than a century ago.

At every Defence site in Australia, you will find signs and flags emblazoned with five words:  

Service … Courage … Respect … Integrity… and Excellence — values through which our Anzac legacy continues.

In recent weeks, we have acknowledged the 125^th anniversary of both the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Navy, as well as the 105^th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.  

On behalf of Queenslanders, I thank all ADF personnel, for your steadfast dedication to serving our nation.

Here at the Shrine of Remembrance in Anzac Square, the Eternal Flame provides a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war, and the sacrifices made to protect our way of life.

Anzac Day reminds us that the peace and freedoms we enjoy today were not given lightly. They were earned through sacrifice—through lives cut short, futures unfulfilled, and families forever changed.  

As Governor, I am deeply touched by your commitment to join us today to honour the service and sacrifice of our Anzacs who fought in strange and distant lands to protect our way of life and ensure our prosperity here at home. The stories of Gallipoli and our Anzacs belong to our nation, and to us all, and it is our duty to honour their memory.

Amid the immense national sadness which unites us today, let us bow our heads and renew our commitment to be worthy of their sacrifice.

Today, of all days, we will remember them.

Lest we forget.