ANZAC DAY ON THE WESTERN FRONT - VETS AFFAIRS MINISTER TO REPRESENT AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, and the French Secretary of State for Defence and Veterans' Affairs, Mr Jean Marie Bockel, will attend the Western Front Anzac Day Dawn Service in honour of the Australians who served in France during the First World War.
While in Europe, Mr Griffin will also hold bilateral discussions with Mr Bockel, the UK Under Secretary of State for Defence, Minister for Veterans, Mr Kevan Jones, and meet with the Flemish Minister-President, Kris Peeters, in Belgium. Mr Griffin will also meet with local French authorities to progress the commemoration of Australian service on the Western Front.
Mr Griffin said that plans for the Australian Government's Anzac Day Dawn Service, to be held at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, were well underway.
"Some 295,000 Australians served on the Western Front during the First World War. Australia suffered its greatest losses on the bloodied battlefields of the Western Front - more than 46,000 Australians perished here and the Anzac Day service at the Australian National Memorial especially honours their sacrifice," said Mr Griffin.
"Australians in Europe are invited to the Dawn Service and to join commemorations in the region on Anzac Day. Each year, the villages of Villers-Bretonneux and Bullecourt honour the Australian diggers who defended their communities more than 90 years ago and we can repay that respect by joining them at their local Anzac Day ceremonies."
Anzac Day Dawn Services will also be held at historically significant locations across the world including in Sandakan in Malaysia, Hellfire Pass in Thailand, the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea as well as the birthplace of the Anzac legend, Gallipoli, Turkey.
The Australian Government has been working closely with Turkish and New Zealand authorities in planning for the 95th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings next year, and centenary in 2015.
Australians interested in overseas Anzac Day ceremonies should visit the Department of Veterans' website, www.dva.gov.au/commemorations.
Editors/Producers note: The Minister is available for interviews in the lead up to Anzac Day, please contact Laura Ryan via email laura.ryan@dva.gov.au or phone 0437 863 109 to arrange.
For background information on Anzac Day visit www.dva.gov.au/media/mainme.htm
The VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.
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