ANZAC DAY IN ADELAIDE

ANZAC Day is held annually on April 25th and includes commemorations across the country at dedicated war memorials, community precincts and RSL Sub-Branches.

ANZAC Day is a national public holiday. Saturday 25th April 2020 is the public holiday in South Australia, no other day is granted as a holiday in this case.

RSL SA is responsible for the delivery of ANZAC Day commemorative activities in Adelaide through an ANZAC Day Committee in partnership with the City of Adelaide and the South Australian Government.

The ANZAC period features commemorations, displays, exhibitions, reunions, sporting activities and the ANZAC Appeal.

ANZAC commemorations in Adelaide include the following activities:

State RSL ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil
Dawn Service
ANZAC Day March
Cross of Sacrifice Service
ANZAC on Torrens Parade Ground

Anzac Day in Pennington Gardens, 1923. SLSA [PRG 280/1/35/83]

On the Day

ANZAC Eve Youth Vigils

The State RSL ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil at the South Australian National War Memorial commences at 6pm on 24th April and is maintained overnight until the Dawn Service.

Representatives from youth groups conduct a 12 hour vigil that concludes just prior to the Dawn Service.

The general public are invited to view the vigil and support the youth who are our custodians of the ANZAC traditions. RSL Youth Vigil Facebook Page.

Overnight vigils are conducted by youth groups at other metropolitan and country memorials.

Dawn Service

The Dawn Service is a tradition on ANZAC Day across Australia in country and metropolitan areas.

The Adelaide Dawn Service is held at the South Australian National War Memorial on the corner of Kintore Avenue and North Terrace and begins at 6.00am.

Services

Some RSL Sub-Branches and community organisations conduct ANZAC Day services and other commemorations in regional and metropolitan areas. The content and conduct of services is determined by the local organisers and may include: Welcome, Acknowledgement of Aboriginal Country (Welcome to Country if conducted by an eligible Aboriginal person), Announcements, Guest Speaker, Requiem Reading, Religious Items, Prayers, Hymns, Readings, Benediction, Car Door Openers, ADF or Cadet participation, Catafalque Party, Flag Orderlies, Recitation of The Ode, Bugler or Recording, Playing of The Last Post, Silence, Playing of Reveille (Rouse), Wreath/Tribute Placing, Flyover, Firing Volleys, Music, New Zealand National Anthem, Australian National Anthem. The service should be non-political, non-sectarian and encourage community involvement.

These Services Lists are added to as locations and times are advised to RSL SA.

Please use this form to submit planned activities: ANZAC 2020 Activities Form

Originally written by historian Charles Bean, The Requiem, has been amended to include additional conflicts, campaigns and missions. It is suitable for reciting on ceremonial occasions. The Requiem

ANZAC Day March

The ANZAC Day March traditionally commences at 9.30am from North Terrace, Adelaide, from the SA National War Memorial, and turns right onto King William Road. The march concludes at the Cross of Sacrifice in Pennington Gardens, North Adelaide. Spectators are invited to line both North Terrace and King William Road (between North Terrace and the Adelaide Bridge).

It is important to note that the ANZAC Day March in Adelaide is a commemorative march and not a parade. Statement of the principles of the Adelaide ANZAC Day March includes information for descendants of deceased former members of Australian, New Zealand and allied/coalition forces.

Veterans, ex-service personnel, allies and Australian Defence Force units participate in the ANZAC Day March. The event is televised live on ABC Television.

Australian Defence Force

Ceremonial participation by the ADF is subject to operational requirements, the number of taskings requested and availability of personnel. Sufficient notice needs to be applied to requests and must use the relevant forms

ADF CEREMONIAL REQUEST FORM

ADF ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY REQUEST FORM

Australian Flag Protocols

Click here for the Flag Protocols Guide issued by the Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet

Medal Compliance

RSL SA has a strict code of compliance that members are expected to follow when wearing medals. The statement below gives details on this.

RSL Medal Policy Statement

Cross of Sacrifice Service

A Remembrance Service is held at the Cross of Sacrifice in Pennington Gardens, North Adelaide, from approximately 11.30am, immediately after the ANZAC Day March concludes.

This service provides a significant finale to the commemorations, with the Dawn Service representing a funeral, the March representing the walk to the grave site and the service at the Cross of Sacrifice representing the burial.

The Cross of Sacrifice Memorial stands in gardens opposite St Peters Cathedral. The gardens contain the Cross of Sacrifice, a memorial to the men who died during the Great War (WWI) of 1914 – 1920. The foundation stone for the cross memorial was laid on August 4 1920. The memorial is 11.6m high, made of Tea Tree Gully stone, and on the face is the Crusader’s Sword. At the far end of the garden is the Stone of Remembrance with engraving that states ‘Their Name Liveth For Evermore’. This stone was laid in 1923 and is made of Palmer marble. An Ataturk Tribute and Eternal Flame also feature in the garden.

The general public are welcome to attend this service.

ANZAC SPORTS

AFL 25th April Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval, 7:20pm

SANFL

24th April West Adelaide v Norwood, Hisense Stadium 7:40pm

25th April South Adelaide v Central District, Adelaide Uni Oval 1:10pm Eagles v Adelaide, Maughan Thiem Kia Oval 2:10pm Glenelg v Port Adelaide, ACH Group Stadium 2:10pm