Anzac Day In East Timor

Anzac Day In East Timor

Australian and New Zealand troops serving in operations in East Timor have commemorated Anzac Day with a special Dawn Service.

The soldiers were joined by the Australian ambassador to East Timor, His Excellency Peter Heyward; the New Zealand ambassador to East Timor, Dr Tim McIvor; Commander of the International Stabilisation Force, Colonel Simon Stuart; leaders of the East Timor Defence Force (F-FDTL); and many local guests and dignitaries.

The service paid tribute to the ANZAC men and women who fought in the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War in 1915, and remembered all those who have served in the Australian Defence Forces, especially comrades who have fallen in battle.

“It is extremely important to remember those that have gone before us as they have shaped our values and made us who we are today, but also to remember those who are serving today on operations in theatres like East Timor,” Colonel Stuart said.

East Timor is the only global area of operation where the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces combine under a single force.

“You feel like you’re carrying on the tradition of ANZACs from the past, we always get on together and work well as one force,” NZ Defence Force member, Captain Jeong Park said.

Commemorating Anzac Day on operations has added a deeper sense of pride in repaying the loyalty and sacrifice of past and present ANZACs.

“There is certainly a lump in the throat as you hear the national anthems played and look around at the faces of the young men and women that are serving their countries here today, they are not too dissimilar to those in the photographs of 1915,” Captain Jeong Park said.

The last post and the Turkish, New Zealand and Australian national anthems were played to mark the 95th anniversary of Anzac Day.

“Celebrating Anzac day on operations as part of a uniquely ANZAC force, the only ANZAC force on operations today, is certainly significant and we have certainly taking a moment to soak up this significance and atmosphere,” Colonel Stuart said.

Media note: Vision of the Dawn Service in East Timor will be fed to all networks via Parliament House, Canberra at 11:00am today.

ENDS

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