Remembrance

"This noble Shrine has been erected as a symbol of gratitude to those who fought for us...They fought the secure to the world the blessings of peace. It is for us to seek to repay their devotion by striving to preserve that peace, and by caring for those who have been bereaved or afflicted by the war."

- Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
Dedication speech, Shrine of Remembrance, 11 November 1934

The quote above, from the speech given by the Duke of Gloucester at the dedication of the Shrine in 1934, encapsulates the idea of 'remembrance' and remains as relevant today as it was in 1934. Today 90,000 people  attend one of the more than 130 official remembrance services conducted at the Shrine each year.

Whilst many of these visitors attend on the larger ceremonial days - ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day in particular - many attend smaller services in numbers less than a handful. As well as these organised ceremonies many visitors make personal pilgrimages of remembrance to the Shrine each year.

These visitors, pilgrims and official parties both, ensure that the spirit of remembrance described by the Duke of Gloucester remains vibrant today. Joining those solely attending the Shrine to remember are those here to learn - more than 45,000 school students attend educational programs each year - and the casual visitor who cannot but leave with some understanding of the scale of sacrifice made by Victoria's men and women in nearly a century of conflict.

Visitors can find more information on commemorative activities by following the links under 'Remembrance' or they can contact the Shrine on (03) 9661 8100 for further information.