From the State President

Every April 25th, before the sun considers declaring the morning good, people gather.

We gather in our thousands, in cities, on beaches, in parks and at local memorials. We stand united in the dark with others whose names we don’t know, waiting for a note of music, sombre words, and a silence that you can feel. And within the dark, within this silence, something stirs. A memory that has both weight and shape, even if you can’t put words to it. It’s human, honest, and utterly Australian. It is the ANZAC spirit. 

Every nation has its rituals. The moments on the calendar that invite pause and unite communities. In Australia, ANZAC Day stands apart. It’s the heartbeat of a national tradition that continues to resonate.

What makes ANZAC Day remain as a cultural keystone is beyond nostalgia. It’s what happens when Australians come together to remember courage, sacrifice and mateship. A chance to stand united and reflect on what truly matters. 

In cities and towns thousands of strangers stand together in solemnity. Some march and lay a wreath, and some observe in silence. Families bake ANZAC biscuits with their kids.

Others pin on medals passed down through generations or tuck a sprig of rosemary into their lapels. There are those who simply pause mid-sentence when the first notes of the

Last Post cut through the morning air.

Every gesture is different, but each is tied to a deep, human draw: to honour those who served, the brave who were prepared to give their lives, and those who continue this duty today.

In modern Australia, connection can feel fragmented and attention endlessly diverted, yet these small acts carry particular gravity. They remind us that some things are worth slowing down for, not because tradition demands it, but because gratitude compels us.

Major General Stephen Day DSC AM, State President RSL Queensland

ANZAC Day isn’t solely about the past. It’s about courage, resilience, compassion, respect, and mateship that transcend the boundaries of time. These aren’t relics of an earlier generation. They’re values that ask more of us, every day, in how we treat each other, how we step up for our mates and our communities.

The spirit behind ANZAC Day offers something steady and a reminder of how lucky we are to call this country home.

From the poignant silence of the dawn services to the proud faces of all those who march, and even to the sometimes rowdy, afternoon gatherings, the emotion of the day reflects the Australian character itself. It begins with reverence, moves to contemplation, and ends with connection. Humour and storytelling, shared meals, and that uniquely Australian ability to bring people together.

It’s not the passing of years that marks the legacy of the ANZACs, but the unity experienced each time we gather in their name. And every person who shows up, whether at a dawn service, a march, or a local park, is helping to push that spirit forward.

It is because of this enduring legacy that ANZAC Day still resonates so widely, because its themes reach beyond place and time. It invites participation from anyone who values community, loyalty, and courage – all the qualities that make our society stronger.

And participation doesn’t require poetic reflection or grand gestures. It is enough to just pause or teach a child what the day means. To listen closely to stories of generations gone by, to recognise the weight of sacrifice, and to acknowledge that service continues today in many forms.

The ANZAC spirit lives here-in the choices we make, the kindness we show, the thanks we express, and the commitment we make to pass on the stories of our history.

This spirit isn’t fading but rather adapting and evolving. And every year, on this sacred day, we are reminded that commemoration isn’t an obligation, it’s a privilege. 

That, in itself, is surely worth waking before dawn and showing that the ANZAC spirit lives here. 

Lest we forget. 

Stephen Day DSC AM, State President