On Anzac Day, people speak words of remembrance, honouring sacrifice, mateship, courage, and endurance, most notably by reciting "The Ode" from Laurence Binyon's poem, ending with the phrases "We will remember them" and "Lest we forget," while sharing personal reflections on service, loss, and national spirit through speeches and social media posts.
The Ode of Remembrance is a poem that is commonly recited at Anzac Day services to commemorate wartime sacrifice. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
Use of the phrase 'lest we forget' became common across Australia and New Zealand after World War I. The phrase became linked with commemorative services on: Anzac Day.
One traditional recitation on Anzac Day is the fourth verse of the poem 'For the Fallen' by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon. It is known as The Ode. We will remember them. 'Lest we forget' is not a part of the poem, however it has become accepted practice to say it at the completion of The Ode.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them. The Ode comes from For the Fallen, a poem by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon and was published in London in The Winnowing Fan: Poems of the Great War in 1914.
“A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him.” – G.K. Chesterton. This quote beautifully captures the emotional motivation behind service: love for home, family, and country.
On Anzac Day, there are many ways to honour people who have served, and those who continue to serve, in Australia's armed forces. We can gather together like this, attend a dawn service or an Anzac Day march. We can also wear a sprig of rosemary as a symbol of remembrance.
This is because the date marks the beginning of dispossession, violence, genocide, and the negative impacts of European colonisation on Indigenous communities. Many non-Indigenous Australians feel the same way and it is widely viewed as a day of mourning, rather than celebration.
"This We'll Defend" has been our Army's motto since the Revolutionary War. It reminds us that our purpose is timeless and clear: to fight and win our Nation's wars. When our Army hits the dirt, America means business.
'Anzac Day is a solemn and respectful day of remembrance and commemoration of those who fought and died for our freedoms,' he told NewsCorp in 2019. 'The word happy shouldn't be used. You say "Happy Easter" and Christmas, but this is a solemn day, and it's not appropriate.
“Lest We Forget” - This is the most common phrase used for remembrance services and to commemorate the fallen. "With love and pride, we remember your sacrifice."
"Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy, Oi, Oi, Oi!" is a popular Australian sports chant, a variation of the British "Oggy, Oggy, Oggy" cheer, used to express national pride and support for Australian teams, with "Ozzy" being slang for "Australian" and "Oi, Oi, Oi" a general interjection for enthusiasm or attention, much like "USA!". The chant involves one group shouting "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!" and the crowd responding "Oi, Oi, Oi!".
“G'day” What does it mean? General greeting, used instead of “hello”, both day and night. Often combined with “mate”, as in…
RSL wa COMMEMORATION CEREMONIES
The Last Post shall be played. A period of not more than two minutes' silence shall then be observed. The designated person shall say 'Lest We Forget' and the gathering will repeat 'Lest We Forget'. Rouse or Reveille shall then be played.
Talk and consult with your local First Peoples' community members to inform yourself of their views on the date and to help you develop a respectful approach; Invite Elders to play a special role in any Australia Day events you are organising, including conducting a 'Welcome to Country'.
A large part of the population recognises it as Australia Day, but for many Indigenous people and their Allies, it's more aptly acknowledged as Invasion Day or Survival Day. To many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, there is little to celebrate on Australia Day.
Supporters of 'Change The Date' argue that January 26 is an inappropriate day to celebrate because it marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. For them, the date doesn't reflect the diverse, multicultural Australia we have today.
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This is a commemorative symbol that means we are remembering someone who has died. On Anzac Day, the Australian flag is lowered for a period of time and raised again during the ceremony as a sign of remembrance.
5 facts you might not know about ANZAC Day and its history
Focusing on Courage and Sacrifice
Thank you for your courage.” “Because of your sacrifices, we live in freedom.” “You've given up comfort and safety so others don't have to that is true heroism.” “Every act of courage you show writes another chapter in the story of freedom.”
Great short quotes offer quick inspiration on self-belief, perseverance, and action, like Oscar Wilde's "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken," Steve Jobs' "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life," and Walt Disney's "The best way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing". For a mindset shift, consider "Hope is NOT a strategy" (Tom Morris) or "The minute you stop expecting life to be simple, fair and easy… it becomes simple, fair and easy" (Tom Morris).
The "most powerful quote" is subjective, but highly impactful ones focus on personal agency, growth, and perspective, like Mahatma Gandhi's "You must be the change you wish to see in the world," Maya Angelou's "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better," and Marianne Williamson's "Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure". Other powerful themes include overcoming fear (Nelson Mandela), embracing authenticity (Oscar Wilde), and the power of action (Abraham Maslow, Carrie Fisher).