Anzac Day in the Derwent Valley

The New Norfolk Cenotaph.

TRADITIONAL Anzac Day events have been cancelled throughout Australia and New Zealand due to the coronavirus pandemic, but there are many ways to observe this national day at home tomorrow (Saturday).

Locally, the New Norfolk Anzac Day Address will be given by the Reverend Celia Hooker at 6am, broadcast on Tyga FM and published on the New Norfolk News website simultaneously. The radio broadcast will start at 6.01am following one minute's silence.

Also at 6am, people throughout Australia and New Zealand are encouraged to stand at their front door or gate for a moment of reflection that has been dubbed "driveways at dawn".

RSL national president Greg Melick said the idea was to unite the country in a period of reflection conducted at home on a mass scale. He said all RSL state and territory branches were proud to support and encourage Australians to join together in spirit to honour the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of the Anzacs and all who have served since.

"Right now, the qualities evoked by our Anzac spirit - ingenuity, humour, endurance, courage and mateship - become more important than ever," Mr Melick said. "This Anzac Day, we have a unique opportunity to light up the dawn with our Anzac spirit andshow our servicepeople, past and present, that we will always remember what they have done for this nation."

Virtual candle, The Ode, The Last Post

Associated with the Driveways at Dawn/Light up the Dawn movement is The Poppy Pledge, promoted by Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, which encourages people to make an online pledge to stand at their driveway at dawn on Anzac Day. As of last night, more than 29,000 people had taken the pledge, including dozens throughout the Derwent Valley at homes in New Norfolk, Granton, Dromedary, Molesworth, Malbina, Sorell Creek, Lachlan, Lawitta, Magra, Black Hills, Mt Lloyd, Glenfern, Gretna and Westerway.

ANZAC DAY ON THE ABC

• 5am: Anzac Stories (ABC-TV, iview). Program looking at the origins of Anzac Day and some of the personal stories of servicemen and women, including those who helped in the recent bushfires.
• 5.30am: Live broadcast of the National Memorial Service from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, (ABC-TV, iview, Radio and online): This includes, from around 6am, The Last Post and a minute of silence, where you can pay your respect at the same time as your local community.      
• 11.30am: RSL Tasmania commemorative service (ABC Radio);
• 6.55pm: Governor-General David Hurley's Anzac Day message (ABC-TV and Radio)
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HELP BUILD THE NATIONAL MEMORY

• Places of Pride: The National Register of War Memorials
• Virtual War Memorial Australia
• Monument Australia
• Discovering Anzacs