Emotional day for personnel, veterans and families – Anzac Day

Members of the Army’s 7th Brigade took part in Anzac Day commemorations in Brisbane to pay their respect to current and former servicemen and women.

CAPTION: Army soldiers from 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, during the Anzac Day march Brisbane city. Story by Captain Cody Tsaousis. Photos by Private Alfred Stauder.

Multiple units conducted dawn services at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, before hundreds of personnel  travelled into the city to march at the Brisbane CBD Anzac Day parade.

The parade was attended by thousands of community members from south-east Queensland, which 7th Brigade Headquarters Company Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class Two Vanessa Thompson, said was great to see.

“We’d like to thank everyone who attended the march, a dawn service, or even just wore a sprig of rosemary and took a moment of reflection today,” she said.

“It’s always emotional to see veterans or the families of former and current serving members attend the parade; it’s one of the highlights of the day for us because we’re aware of the huge sacrifice serving members and families make.

CAPTION: ADF personnel hold the Australian flag during the Anzac Day march Brisbane city.

“We were glad to see lots of them on the streets of Brisbane today; it’s clear to see that our relationship with the community in this region is strong.

“This was evident both today and during Run Army on Sunday, and we hope to foster these great relationships for years to come.”

ADF personnel also supported Anzac services at Gallipoli in Türkiye, at Villers-Bretonneux in France, at the battlefields of PNG and Vietnam, as well as in the Middle East and across the Pacific.

Commander of the 7 Brigade, Brigadier Giles Cornelia, said it demonstrated the importance of Anzac Day, and the groundswell of support from the community was symbolic of the soldiers’ unending legacy.

“Anzac Day is one of the most important days in the calendar for our nation, and this is reflected in the fact it is commemorated all around Australia and the world,” he said.

CAPTION: Australian Army veterans during the Anzac Day march in Brisbane city.

“It’s a day for us to come together as a nation and commemorate the sacrifice and the incredible spirit of the original generation of Anzacs. We solemnly acknowledge all Australian service personnel who have died on active service.

“Anzac Day is heavily supported by Australians and it’s a day of reflection. The Anzac legend and the Gallipoli campaign resonates with our community, and shows how thankful we are for those who lost their lives, those who were wounded, those who suffered and their families.

“I’m currently deployed with a Joint Task Group in support of the Solomon Islands Elections – it’s an honour and a privilege to be serving overseas on Anzac Day with an outstanding team.”

He quoted the words of war historian CEW Bean, who said Anzac “stood, and still stands, for reckless valour in a good cause, for enterprise, resourcefulness, fidelity, comradeship and endurance that will never own defeat”.

CAPTION: Army soldiers from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) during the Anzac Day march in Brisbane city.

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