This week Australians and New Zealanders will stop to commemorate Anzac Day. 

Port Macquarie-Hastings 2024 Anzac Day service:

Dawn Service:

Address: Port Macquarie War Memorial, Port Macquarie NSW, Australia View on Google Maps

Time: 5:30 am

Date: Thursday 25 April

Information: After the Dawn Service there will be a Gunfire Breakfast at Port Panthers 1 Bay Street Port Macquarie commencing at 0630hrs.

March:

Address: Horton Street, Port Macquarie NSW, Australia View on Google Maps

Time: 10:00 am

Date: Thursday 25 April

Information: The March will start at 10:00rs and proceed down Horton St for about 350mtrs to the War Memorial Port Macquarie

Main Service:

Address: Port Macquarie War Memorial, Port Macquarie NSW, Australia View on Google Maps

Time: 10:30 am

Date: Thursday 25 April

Information: The main Service will commence at 10.30hrs or immediately after the main march has finished and the public is assembled....

Is Anzac Day a public holiday?

Yes. Anzac Day is a public holiday across Australia and New Zealand. 

In years where April 25 falls on a weekend, some states and territories may hold the public holiday on the Monday or Friday — but because it's on a weekday this year, that's not the case. 

What does Anzac stand for?

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. 

What is Anzac Day?

It's a national day of remembrance, commemorating those who have served and died in military operations.

Or, as the Australian War Memorial puts it, it's a time for the nation to "reflect on the many different meanings of war".

What's an Anzac biscuit?

These days, an Anzac biscuit (or bickie, depending on how casual you want to be) is typically a sweet oaty biscuit made with desiccated coconut and golden syrup. 

But in a summary of Australia's Anzac Day traditions written for the federal government, David Watt points out that this wasn't always the case. 

"The original Anzac biscuit, also known as the Anzac wafer or tile, was a hardtack biscuit or long shelf-life biscuit substitute for bread," he says. 

"These were not necessarily popular with soldiers at Gallipoli, but there are now recipes for more edible domestic versions." (See video #2 below)

The Australian War Museum has three historical Anzac biscuit recipes on its website.

Why is Anzac Day on April 25th?

It's the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand armed forces during World War I. 

On April 25 1915, the ANZAC soldiers landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula, in what was then known as Turkey (which is now officially known as Türkiye).

The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. 

This was when Australia and New Zealand were fighting as part of the Commonwealth for Britain, which had declared war against Germany. 

The Ottoman Empire was, at the time, an ally of Germany. 

The Gallipoli campaign was supposed to be a fast victory, but it ended up dragging on for eight months, with heavy casualties on both sides. 

More than 8,000 Australian soldiers died during the campaign.

It had a profound impact on Australians at home and the first day of the campaign "became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who died in the war", the Australian War Memorial website says. 

"Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the actions of Australian and New Zealand forces during the campaign left a powerful legacy," the website says. 

"What became known as the 'Anzac legend' became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways in which they viewed both their past and their future."

How is Anzac Day commemorated?

There are many traditions associated with the day, but the two key events are a memorial service at dawn and a march later in the day. 

Dawn services are symbolic of the time Anzac forces originally landed on the shores of Gallipoli.

These ceremonies typically involve the laying of floral wreaths, a moment of silence and a rendition of The Last Post — which is a specific tune played on a bugle. 

Later in the day, former and current military personnel and family representatives march in a parade and gather with the public for a formal memorial service. 

Anyone can go to the public services, which are typically held in central areas. 

But if you're unable to make it to a service in person, you can watch the services on ABC TV and the station's streaming service ABC iview. 

The Sydney Dawn Service will be broadcast live on ABC TV, ABC NEWS channel, ABC iview and on the ABC listen app from 4:20am AEST, followed by the Canberra Dawn Service at 5:30am.

ABC TV and ABC NEWS channel will broadcast the Gallipoli Dawn Service live from 12:30pm AEST, the Villers-Bretonneux Dawn Service from 1:30pm AEST and the governor-general's address from 6:55pm AEST.

Video #3 | Peter Weir's devastating anti-war film 'Gallipoli' features a low-key but emotionally wrenching performance from Mel Gibson as a young soldier fighting in one of World War I's most deadly and horrifying battles. A must-see for ANZAC newbe's. As one viewer stated : "Have held this film in reverence since I first saw it in about 1985. Just returned from a visit to Gallipoli and now I watch it with a new and even more emotional perspective. The terrain there is unimaginable - these men were extraordinary. Their courage and stoicism was beyond our comprehension in this entitled, soft and decadent world that we have fallen into. We should hang our heads in shame at what we have done in return for their sacrifice." - Lest We Forget.

Originsl Story By | Dannielle Maguire