High Commissions of New Zealand and Australia in Pretoria host 25th April 2023 ANZAC Day Commemorative Dawn service

A beautiful sunrise commemoration service of ANZAC day was held at #FreedomPark, Pretoria. It was hosted by their Excellencies High Commissioner of New Zealand, H.E. Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett and High Commissioner of Australia, H.E. Ms Tegan Brink.

Photo: Photo:(L-R)High Commissioner of New Zealand, H.E. Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett and High Commissioner of Australia, H.E. Ms. Tegan Brink, laying their Wreaths as part of the Anzac Day Dawn Service

Photo: (L-R) High Commissioner of New Zealand, H.E. Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett, Minister of Public Service and Administration Hon. Noxolo Kiviet and High Commissioner of Australia, H.E. Ms. Tegan Brink

Photo: The High Commissioners, Ambassadors, diplomatic community, South African Government Officials, Civil Society and South African community took part in the Anzac Day Wreath Laying as part of the Anzac Day Dawn Service, honouring those who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Photo: A beautiful sunrise commemoration service of ANZAC Day held at Freedom Park, Pretoria.

Photo: Guests attending the beautiful sunrise commemoration service of ANZAC Day at Freedom Park, Pretoria.

Minister of Public Service and Administration Honourable Noxolo Kiviet, their Excellencies , High Commissioners, Ambassadors of Missions accredited to Pretoria, the diplomatic community, South African Government Officials, Civil Society and South African community attended the ANZAC Commemorative Dawn Service.

H.E. Ms Aysegul Kandas, Ambassador of Turkiye to South Africa, delivered the words of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder and first President of the Republic of Turkiye.

Every year, April 25 marks the National Remembrance Day of New Zealand and Australia to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) for their engagement in World War I.

It commemorates New Zealanders and Australians killed in war and honours returned and serving servicemen and women.

The remembrance Poppy, a symbolic artificial flower, has been used to commemorate the soldiers since 1921.

The date marks the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers – the Anzacs on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. The aim was to capture the Dardanelles and open a sea route to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. At the end of the campaign, Gallipoli was still held by its Ottoman Turkish defenders.

Thousands lost their lives during the Gallipoli campaign – 87,000 Ottoman Turks, 44,000 men from France, and the British Empire, including 8,500 Australians. To this day, Australia also marks the events of 25 April. Among the dead were 2,779 New Zealanders – about one in six of those who served on Gallipoli.

They may have ended in military defeat, but for many New Zealanders then and since, the Gallipoli landings signalled that New Zealand was becoming a distinct nation, even as it fought on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.

Anzac Day was first observed in 1916. The day has gone through many changes since then. The ceremonies that are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand, and in places overseas where New Zealanders gather, are modelled on a military funeral and remain rich in tradition and ritual.

Wreath laying was part of the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Pretoria.

Their Excellencies, High Commissioner of New Zealand, H.E. Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett, High Commissioner of Australia, H.E. Ms. Tegan Brink, the Minister of Public Service and Administration Hon. Noxolo Kiviet, High Commissioners, Ambassadors, diplomatic community, South African Government Officials, Civil Society and South African community took part in the Anzac Day Wreath Laying as part of the Anzac Day Dawn Service, honouring those who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Loyalty, selflessness, and courage reflect the Anzac spirit!

Lest we forget!

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM!

#AnzacDay

#anzacday2023

#lestweforget2023

#freedompark

#LestWeForget

The Diplomatic Informer
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