The Anzac Memorial celebrates the 90th anniversary of its opening this Sunday with a public open day with tours, performances and talks for members of the public to enjoy, concluding with a twilight commemoration service to mark the milestone.
People are encouraged to visit the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney to see the recently opened Treasures of the Anzac Memorial exhibition, take a tour of the memorial or book into a lecture.
A twilight commemoration service will commence at 5pm on Sunday on the northern forecourt and Pool of Reflection. The service is open for the public to attend to mark this important milestone.
On 24 November 1934, more than 100,000 people assembled in Hyde Park to witness the official opening of the memorial, following a procession of over 20,000 returned service personnel who marched from the Domain to Hyde Park.
Since then, the memorial has been a focal point for commemoration and acknowledgement of service and sacrifice, and a place of mourning and reflection for families grieving the loss of loved ones to service. It has also been a place of camaraderie and support as a working memorial for veterans and their families to gather.
Over the years veterans and their families have donated a significant collection of objects to the Anzac Memorial. Items from Australia's involvement in the 1899-1902 South African War, the First World War and Second World War through to Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan are included in the collection.
To mark the anniversary, the memorial has launched a publication Ninety Treasures - 90 Years which features 90 stirring narratives demonstrating the diversity of NSW military experience and the courage, endurance and sacrifice of generations of Australians whose lives have been profoundly affected by war.
The book's cover features a cricket ball trophy made as a memorial to Albert 'Tibby' Cotter by his family.
Cotter, a pioneering fast bowler who played for New South Wales and Australia, was killed at the light horse charge at Beersheba on 31 October 1917.
The ball was bowled by Cotter when he took 6 wickets for 40 runs in a Test match for Australia against England in the 1903-04 season.
Visitors can also discover the work of the Anzac Memorial's Veteran Artist in Residence, Domenic Bartolo, and his exhibition They Never Returned; Though Their Name Liveth For Evermore. Theexhibition shares the stories of some of Sydney's local war memorials including the Anzac Memorial.
The 90th Anniversary events schedule can be viewed here: www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/90
Minister for Veterans David Harris said:
"Sunday is a significant day for the Anzac Memorial in Sydney's Hyde Park as we celebrate its 90th anniversary.
"Not only is this the state's principal memorial, honouring the service and sacrifice of veterans from New South Wales, but it also houses a remarkable collection of items that have been generously donated over many decades.
"I encourage our community to visit the memorial's open day, to explore the Treasures of the Anzac Memorial exhibition and see some of the remarkable items that have been donated to the memorial over the last 90 years.
"I would also like to extend an invite to the public to joins us at the twilight commemoration on Sunday to help celebrate this significant anniversary."
