Thousands of people across the country have gathered to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies, honouring those who died serving in conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
This year’s Remembrance Day marks the 108-year anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I — a conflict that claimed the lives of 60,000 Australians.
Ceremonies across the country shared a minute’s silence at 11am, marking the moment guns fell silent across the Western Front and the war ended on November 11, 1918.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn and the Director of the Australian War Memorial Matt Anderson lay the 92-year-old scarlet poppy wreath at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. (AAP: Hilary Wardhaugh)
In Canberra, the national ceremony at the Australian War Memorial was attended by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, Federal Nationals MP Michael McCormack — who represented the leader of the federal opposition, and Defence Force Chief Admiral Mark Hammond.
The Governor-General laid a 92-year-old scarlet poppy wreath, which had been brought out of the memorial collections for the ceremony.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Australian defence personnel in Singapore on his way to COP31 in Türkiye.
The prime minister lays a wreath in Singapore to commemorate Australia’s serving men and women on Remembrance Day. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
Australian Army Chaplain Kelly Horne, who helped to train Ukrainian soldiers for the front line, gave the commemorative address at the Australian War Memorial, honouring the fallen Australian soldiers who “paid the ultimate sacrifice”.
She said on Remembrance Day, “We remember to remember.”
“Let’s remember those who have been forever wounded by war, and let’s remember that we can have hope. We can be hope. We can give hope,”
she said.
The Remembrance Day 2026 ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
One Nation leader and Ben Roberts-Smith attend Brisbane ceremony
In Brisbane, Senator Pauline Hanson and war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith attended Remembrance Day commemorations.
Mr Roberts-Smith said, like all Australians, he wanted to pay his respects to those who had “made the sacrifice to give us this great country”.
Senator Pauline Hanson and Ben Roberts-Smith attending a Remembrance Day ceremony in Brisbane. (ABC News: Will Murray)
“Remembrance Day is not about any one person, it is certainly not about me,” he said.
“Remembrance Day is about us taking a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that were made for us and, like everyone else, that is what I’m doing today.”
The Victoria Cross recipient has been charged with five counts of war crime murderrelating to his time serving in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
He has strenuously denied the allegations and said in an interview last month he would continue to fight the charges.
Ben Roberts-Smith says Remembrance Day was “certainly not” about him. (ABC News: Will Murray)
Sacrifice can be ‘something we acknowledge without truly understanding’
At Sydney’s Martin Place Cenotaph, New South Wales Governor Margaret Beazley, Premier Chris Minns, and federal Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek were among the dignitaries, veterans and serving Australian Defence Force members who laid wreaths.
A poppy installation at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, Sydney. (ABC News: Charlie McLean)
Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Anita Williams gave the centrepiece address, in a speech which focused on the relevance of past conflicts, including those now beyond living memory.
“Because memory fades … sacrifice can become something we acknowledge without truly understanding,” she said.
“Those who served carried the burden of defending Australia. The duty remembrance asks of us is far simpler — Not merely to remember their sacrifice, but to honour it. To prove worthy of it.”
People gather at Sydney’s Martin Place Cenotaph to commemorate fallen soldiers. (ABC News: Charlie McLean)
‘I was in battle at age 18’
Among the attendees at a ceremony on North Terrace in South Australia was 104-year-old World War II veteran Reg Swanborough.
“I joined up with 32 others on the 26th of July 1938 and to the best of my knowledge … two others and myself came home alive,” he said.
104-year-old World War II veteran Reg Swanborough at a Remembrance Day ceremony in South Australia. (ABC News: Briana Fiore)
Mr Swanborough said he was 15 when he enlisted, and the war began the following year.
“I was in battle at age 18,” he said.
Veteran Gary Stewart left Vietnam 55 years ago today to come home.
“Most of us came home, one of our mates got killed over there … that was tough,” he said.
Veteran Gary Stewart at South Australia Remembrance Day left Vietnam 55 years ago today. (ABC News: Briana Fiore)
Crowds gather to pay their respects in Melbourne
Melburnians also paused to pay their respects to those who have lost their lives in wars and military operations this Remembrance Day.
Today marks the 92nd Remembrance Day at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.
Silvie Paladino sang You Raise Me Up accompanied by the Royal Australian Navy Band, and there was an RAAF flyover.
Wreaths were laid by the premier, the leader of the opposition, members of state and federal parliament and the Lord Mayor.
People gather to mark the 92nd Remembrance Day at Melbourne’s shrine. (ABC News: Alexandra Alvaro)
‘Not just an exercise in nostalgia’
In Tasmania, Remembrance Day was marked with services around the state, including at the Hobart Cenotaph.
Unfortunately, the cannon failed to fire after the Ode of Remembrance.
Retired Colonel Ross Byrne told the assembled crowd it was a day to honour those who had served and reflect on the cost of war and conflict.
Among those laying wreaths were the Tasmanian Governor Caroline Wells and Hobart’s new Lord Mayor Charles Wooley.
Crowds gather at the Remembrance Day service at the Hobart Cenotaph. (ABC News: Sophie Jaggers)
Governor Wells said the service was more than just a commemoration of a past peace.
“Remembrance is not just an exercise in nostalgia; it is a moment to face the world’s brokenness and to recommit to our duty in the present,”
she said.
“Remembrance Day is a reminder that the freedom we enjoy in this country has been paid for with blood, that peace has been purchased with sacrifice, and the duty to protect both rests now with us.”
Tributes flow in Darwin for Corporal Hannam
Hundreds of current and former service people gathered alongside military families, government officials and civilians for Remembrance Day in Darwin.
Tributes flowed for Corporal Brendan Hannamwho died in a military training exercise in the Northern Territory earlier this year.
People in Darwin attended a commemorative ceremony and pay their respects to soldiers who had died in war. (ABC News: Amelia Searson)
High-profile attendees such as NT Administrator David Connolly and Commander of the 1st Brigade Brigadier Rob Haertsch said the tragedy was a reminder of the gruelling sacrifices service people make both in and away from the field of battle.
‘We hold them all within our own hearts’: PM
The prime minister said Remembrance Day was a chance to honour all those who have fought and died in service of Australia.
“We hold them all within our own hearts, just as we hold all who have followed – for this generation and all the generations to come,”
he said.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor paid tribute to his own grandfather who served in World War I, and his wife’s grandfather who served in World War II.
“Australia wouldn’t be the country it is today but for all those Australians who, across our history, risked all to fight evil, to defend our home, and to preserve our freedoms,” Mr Taylor said in a statement.
Source: www.abc.net.au
