Melbourne Legacy’s 93rd ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony For Students

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we are gathered – the Bunurong people of the Eastern Kulin Nation – and pay my respects to their Elders, past and present. 

There is a silence that follows the tragedy of a soldier making the ultimate sacrifice in service – one that echoes beyond the battlefield.

It is deafening, leaving a void in the hearts of friends, families and the very fabric of their communities.

Death ends their journey, but those left behind must continue – in any way that they can.

For those that are lucky enough to return to our sunburnt land, we must recognise that the lowering of arms does not mean that the conflict in which they were engaged no longer grips them or their family.

A poem, published in the RSL’s Duckboard in 1926, spoke to this experience that so many returned Anzacs have endured:

“I am youth! Brim full of vigour,

Unhampered by the weight of years:

Ambition soaring higher, bigger,

Unconquered by experienced fears.

I am age – grown grim and hoary,

Crackling bones full of fears:

War-worn. I tell another story,

Learn’d in the span of so few years.”

In the wake of such a profound loss, or a profound change in circumstance, it is incumbent on us to repay their duty in kind.

Overcoming the challenge of service-related impacts is something that affects people differently.

There is no one way to help and no single answer – instead, it takes our many answers as a community.

This is why Melbourne Legacy’s mission is so crucial.

It is due to the work of Legacy that so many Victorian veterans and their families have found the support that they need, and deserve.

Now, in their 93rd year, they have built a network that understands the unique challenges that service life brings.

Their symbol, the Torch, represents the undying flame of service and sacrifice passed on from those who gave everything.

Fittingly, that Torch has served as a light within the darkness that has gripped countless Victorians.

I am proud to be here in support of their mission.

Upholding the values of Melbourne Legacy is not just an act of charity – it’s a fundamental expression of our gratitude for their sacrifice and service.

We owe deep gratitude for the service of those who have participated in these conflicts.

For they made it possible for countless people to pursue their dreams in a way that so many never had the opportunity to do – freed from the weight of conflict.

Doing so in a land that offers the promise of peace, freedom and opportunity.

They have done their duty, now, we must do ours through working together to build a society, that honours and supports their legacy.

Thank you.