There is nothing quite as moving and stirring as an ANZAC Day dawn service. After COVID completely restricted us to our driveways last year, we’re looking forward to gathering with our communities to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers at this year's ANZAC Day services.
Two of our biggest services are still feeling the restrictions of COVID, with Kings Park and Albany's services scaled back to protect the more vulnerable. Both, however will be streaming or broadcasting the services so you can participate in your own driveway service at home.
Kings Park
This year's Kings Park memorial service will run from 5.55am to 6.30am on Monday, but is a small invitation-only affair to protect the more vulnerable veterans and attendees. You can still take part in the service from home, though. RSLWA have partnered with Radio 94.5 and the Triple M Radio Network to deliver a live broadcast of a Commemorative Service to enable the community to participate in Driveway Dawn Services.
Rottnest Island
ANZAC Day holds a special place on the Rottnest Island calendar of events. The Island has a long and proud tradition of military service and on ANZAC Day, they commemorate the men and women, both past and present, who have served their country in this moving dawn service. The ceremony starts at 6am on the foreshore as the sun rises over the beautiful waters of Thomson Bay, and will be followed by a free gunfire breakfast. There'll also be tours of Oliver Hill's guns and tunnels. If you can't make it over the night before, ferries will be leaving Fremantle and Hillarys from 4.45am. Those planning on heading to Rottnest Island for any of the services will need to register their attendance here.
Fremantle
The City of Fremantle holds a spectacular silent dawn service perched at the top of Monument Hill starting at 5.50am. This year the service will also be live streamed here.
North Beach
The North Beach dawn service takes place at Charles Riley Reserve on Kitchener Street, commencing at 5.30am, with a gunfire breakfast at the North Beach Bowling club after the ceremony.
Busselton
The Busselton dawn service starts at 5.45am at the Busselton war memorial followed by a gunfire breakfast at the RSL hall on Rosemary Drive. The parade starts at 8.45am from the bottom of Queen Street and finishes at the Busselton War Memorial where the main service will take place.
Albany
Rumour has it that the first official dawn service was held in Albany and the community here commemorates ANZAC Day like no other. The dawn service is held at the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial on Mt Clarence at 5.30am, with free buses running from Middleton Beach and the Albany Entertainment Centre from 4am. Similarly to the Kings Park service, this one has been scaled back this year to protect the more vulnerable, with only limited tickets available. However, they will be streaming the dawn service at the Albany Entertainment Centre (tickets required) and at the ANZAC Peace Park (free to attend). After the dawn service, you can watch the ANZAC Day Parade which runs down York Street from 10am, and there's plenty of history to brush up on at the National ANZAC Centre afterwards.
Ocean Reef
Ocean Reef's dawn service features a stunning lookout over the Indian Ocean and this year commences at the Ocean Reef Sea Sports Club at 5.45am, with a gold-coin donation gunfire breakfast following the service.
Bellevue
Blackboy Hill is a prominent dawn service location in the Hills and this year kicks off its silent service at 6.15am. If you can't make it on ANZAC morning, they also do a sunset service on 24 April at 5.15pm.
To find more ANZAC Day dawn services, click here.
In the meantime, find more things to do in Perth.
Image credit: RSLW