Sydney Remembers The Fallen Of World War I

At Friday dawn, the Sydney Opera House was lit up with projections of poppies as a service was held across the Harbour at the Overseas Passenger Terminal to commemorate the fallen of the 1st World War.

The projections were repeated again at 8pm that night.

Attended by veterans, RSL NSW members, currently serving members, their families, the Minister for Transport, Veterans & Western Sydney & the general public, the dawn service featured The Ode being recited by the President of the Returned & Services League New South Wales (RSL NSW), Ray James OAM before the Army Bugler performed The Last Post across Circular Quay.

The projections of poppies have been an annual Sydney Opera House night projection held on every Remembrance Day since 2014. A dawn projection was introduced in 2020 and a dawn service in 2021, both most likely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. All dawn services have been held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

As a mark of thanks from the state of NSW, travel was made free for Australian Defence Force members and families all day on Remembrance Day.

Minister For Transport, Veterans & Western Sydney David Elliott said 11 November was a day to pay respect to & remember those who have given their lives in service to Australia in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions as well as their families.

Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the beginning of the enforcement of the armistice of World War I, which began at 11am on the 11th of November 1918. Services were held around the world to remember the fallen & the war with a minute’s silence at the 11am mark.

Remembrance Day gives the community an opportunity to pause and reflect on the courage, resilience and sacrifice service men and women have shown for our nation. The poppy projection on the Sydney Opera House is a simple reminder for people here, and around the world, to ‘remember to remember’ those who have come home injured or ill, in body or spirit, and all those who bravely serve our country today

RSL NSW President, Ray James OAM

For more than a century, red poppies have been used as a symbol of community respect and recognition, marking the end of fighting in the First World War

Minister for Transport, Veterans & Western Sydney, David Elliott