Remembrance Day 2025: Commemorative Service at Palm Beach RSL Cenotaph

Remembrance Day Services were held at Pittwater RSL Cenotaph, Avalon Beach RSL Cenotaph and Palm Beach RSL Cenotaph this year, honouring the service and sacrifice of servicemen and servicewomen from Pittwater, New South Wales and across our nation.

The Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, stated:

''Remembrance Day marks the moment the guns fell silent on the Western Front in 1918.  It is a solemn reminder of the cost of peace, and of the courage shown by generations of Australia in its pursuit. 

In this 80th year since the end of the Second World War, when peace was won at a terrible cost – we honour the triumph as much as the toll. 

From a population of just 7 million, nearly 1 million Australians answered the call to serve in the Second World War, and around 40,000 never came home. We honour the bravery of those who fought, the resilience of those who served on the home front and the families whose lives were changed forever. 

Today, we also remember the 103,000 Australians who have given their lives in service to their country, and the many more whose service left physical, emotional and unseen scars. Their sacrifice – and the sacrifice of those who loved them – will never be forgotten. 

More than 2 million Australians have worn our nation’s uniform. We honour every one of them for their courage, commitment and duty.  

This Remembrance Day, I encourage all Australians to join together in a minute’s silence at 11am – to remember, to reflect and to give thanks for those who have given so much for us all.''

As the sun rose on the morning of Tuesday November 11 2025, the NSW Government marked the start of Remembrance Day with red poppies projected onto the Sydney Opera House and the Last Post resonating over Sydney Harbour.

The official NSW Remembrance Day Service commenced at 10:30am at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, attended by NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Veterans David Harris joining members of the veteran and defence community. The event is open to the public with viewing areas accessible from George Street and Pitt Street.

It was 107 years ago that the Armistice was signed, bringing an end to fighting in the First World War. Over 416,000 Australians enlisted for service during the Great War, from a population of only four million. Many more defence personnel have fought in conflicts and peacekeeping operations since.

This year we will also commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War with a number of World War Two veterans attending the NSW Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph including Mrs Grace Wood who enlisted in the Australian Women’s Land Army in February 1943, at the age of 19.

For more than a century, red poppies have been used as a symbol of community respect and recognition. Poppies have been projected onto the Opera House since 2014 and lit up the sails once again at 8pm on Tuesday night.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Today on Remembrance Day, we pause to honour and acknowledge the brave Australians who have served and sacrificed in defence of our freedoms.

“Over 100 years ago our diggers formed the Anzac spirit. We continue to reflect on the immense courage, endurance, and unity shown by those who fought across land, sea, and air, and by those who supported the war effort at home.

“Their sacrifices helped to secure peace and shape the world we live in today.

“Lest we forget.”

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“As we remember all who have served, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and the veterans who have returned home forever changed, we recognise the lasting legacy of their service and the freedoms they have preserved.

“Today we wear poppies and observe a minute of silence, and we express our deepest gratitude to all veterans, their families and current serving members of the defence force.

“I encourage everyone to observe the minute of silence at 11am to honour their service and sacrifice.”

RSL NSW Acting President Brigadier Vince Williams, CSC (Retd.) said:

“Remembrance Day is one of the most solemn days on our national calendar. I call on all Australians to ‘Remember to Remember’ at 11am today – and to pause and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those who served, and those who never came home.

“The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide made clear the toll that military service continues to take on the health and wellbeing of current and former serving Defence personnel and their families. By wearing a poppy, or donating to the RSL Poppy Appeal, we acknowledge that sacrifice and help provide the support services veterans and their families deserve.”

Second World War veteran Grace Wood said:

“I was 19 when I enlisted, because one of my brothers was pulled out of the Army because he got asthma and my other brother went overseas in the Air Force, where he was shot down over Germany.

“All my friends had joined the Army and had gone away, and I thought I could help. There were so many women in the Air Force, the Army, and the Navy, but I thought I could do better by feeding either the soldiers or the country at the time.

“When I heard the war was over, I felt excited to think it's the end of the war. Thank goodness no more boys will be killed. So many people were rushing around town to just scream and be happy, which was great. But my brother was killed, so it was a bit of a mixed feeling for me, glad the war was over, but then you think, what sacrifices they've given.”

At the other end of Sydney, on the Barrenjoey peninsula, the President of Palm Beach RSL Mark Ferguson OAM, a Vietnam Veteran, led the Commemorative Service to honour all those who had served and serve still.

Members, builders and workers form local job sites attended, along with long-term Palm Beach residents such as Beryl Driver OAM and Peter and Ros Verrills, whose relatives stretch back into the beginnings of Palm Beach itself, and are themselves still looking after others in the community after a lifetime of doing so, as they had learned this from the Palm Beach generations that came before them. Peter's father Fred served in World War Two, and his childhood mentor through decades of connection with the Gonsalves, was Carl Gow, who served in World War One, first at Gallipoli and later in France.

Mr Ferguson's Address for 2025:

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2025 - MARK FERGUSON OAM SPEECH

The First World War ended more than a century ago. The fighting stopped when an armistice between the Allies and Germany came into effect at 11 o'clock on the morning of 11 November 1918.

Millions had lost their lives during the war, among them more than 60,000 Australian service personnel - about one in 5 of those who served overseas. Many thousands more were wounded in body or mind.

During the war and after its end, survivors returned home to a country both grateful for their service and traumatised by the war's enormous cost.

The dead lay in cemeteries and unmarked graves around the world, from New Britain in the southwest Pacific, to Mesopotamia, Gallipoli, the Sinai, Palestine and the United Kingdom.

But nowhere on earth do Australia's war dead lie in greater numbers than in the soil of the Western Front in France and Belgium.

The momentous announcement that the fighting was over on this front, and with it the war, was met with joyful celebrations around Australia. But joy was neither universal nor unqualified.

Too many had died, too many more wounded or made ill by their war service. Everywhere, communities knew the pain of losing fondly remembered men. Across the country, memorials were erected to honour those who served and to remember the dead.

In 1919, Britain's King George V proclaimed two minutes of silence at 11 am on 11 November. At the appointed hour, people around Australia, many gathered before local memorials, paused together in common reflection, remembering the dead and beginning a tradition that has endured for more than a century. In time, Australia's war memorials would come to honour the fallen of the Second World War and of the many other conflicts and operations in which Australians have served.

Today, the Australian War Memorial's Roll of Honour lists the names of more than 102,000 Australians who have lost their lives in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

As we pause on Remembrance Day, our thoughts turn to war's enormous cost and the toll it takes, not only on those who fall but on all who serve and their families.

___________________


Prayers were read by Rev. Lloyd Bennett RFD.

Rev. Lloyd Bennett stated:

Today we Remember all who suffer as a result of conflict, and ask that God may give us peace: for the service men and women who have died in the violence of war, each one remembered by and known to God; 

We Remember all members of the armed forces who are in danger this day, We remember their family, friends and all who pray for their safe return;

We Remember all civilian women, children and men whose lives are disfigured by war or terror, 

We remember peacemakers and peacekeepers, who seek to keep this world secure and free;

We Remember all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership, political, military and religious; asking for gifts of wisdom and determination in the search for reconciliation and peace.

___________________


A bugler from Avalon Public School gave an excellent rendition of the Last Post and the Reveille after the President read the Ode, which brought home the solemnity of the Service.

Wreaths were laid by Palm Beach RSL Sub-branch (President Mark Ferguson OAM), Palm Beach RSL Ltd. (President Bryan Webster), and Sporting bodies.

Members and guests were invited inside Club Palm Beach after the service for refreshments.

Remembrance Day can be a difficult and emotional day for Australia’s veterans and their families. We respectfully request anyone needing help to contact Open Arms Veterans & Families Counselling Service, available 24/7 on 1800 011 046.

Below run a few photos from the Palm Beach RSL 2025 Remembrance Day service.

Bob Head, Rev. Lloyd Bennett, Mark Ferguson OAM, 

Peter and Ros Verrills

These gentlemen downed tools to attend the service

Lynette Ferguson

Proud dad and this year's wonderful bugler