Ceremonies Archive

As part of the Shrine's ongoing 'Adopt an Ex-Service Organisation' program, the HMAS Castlemaine Association will be joined by Tecoma Primary School for the commemorative service.

This service is attended by the Australian American Association (Vic), the American Ex-Serviceman's Association and the Naval Commemoration Committee.

The RSL will hold a State Remembrance Service, in conjunction with the Friends of the Odd Bods Association, at the Shrine of Remembrance on Tuesday 8th May 2018 to commemorate the Second World War Victory in Europe.

On 7 May 1945 the German High Command authorised the signing of an unconditional surrender on all fronts, just a week after the death of Adolf Hitler: the war in Europe was over. The surrender was to take effect at midnight on 8–9 May 1945. The following day, 8 May, was declared VE (Victory in Europe) Day, but in Australia, celebration was tempered with the knowledge that the war in the Pacific was still to be won.
Australians serving overseas joined wholeheartedly in the celebrations, with Australian prisoners of war in European prison camps liberated and Australian sailors and aircrew beginning to returning home. While in the major Australian cities there were similar outbursts of rejoicing, overall, the mood across the country was sombre. Churches held thanksgiving services, and on 9 May 100,000 people attended the service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

The Service marks the RSL’s recognition of this important day in our history. It is expected that the service will attract people of all ages and has special meaning to those who have lost relatives and loved ones during that war.

Aimed at capturing the heights of Achi Baba the Second Battle of Krithia was fought between the 6th to 8th of May 1915 on the Gallipoli peninsula. The Australian 2nd Brigade (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Battalions) were released from ANZAC Cove to reinforce the British and French making the assault from Cape Helles. During the ill-fated battle, 6th Battalion suffered casualties of 15 officers and 222 other ranks. This action is commemorated by the 6th Battalion Association each year on 8th May.

This service is in memory of the Victorian servicemen and women who have served overseas or in Australia in all wars, in ships or units of the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army, or the Royal Australian Air Force.

In particular, we remember the service of men and women who served in units from World War I and World War II who once would have attended their annual Pilgrimage in this month, but due to the passage of time are no longer able to.

In World War I, 89,000 Victorians served overseas. 19,000 made the supreme sacrifice.

In World War II, 297,000 Victorians served overseas. 10,900 made the supreme sacrifice

We will remember them.

Carry On (Victoria) is a philanthropic organization that has provided welfare assistance to the Ex-service community in Victoria since its formation in 1932.

In the month of May we commemorate the following events:

3 May 1917: Second Battle of Bullecourt
Australian forces launched a successful attack at Bullecourt, France, as part of the Arras Campaign. Allied casualties for the battle totaled 7,000.

30 May 1942: The ‘1000 Bomber Raid’
Numerous RAAF crews of Bomber Command took part in the first of the ‘1000 Bomber’ raids on Nazi Germany. Bomber Command suffered the highest casualty rates of any Allied service during the war, and more than 3,500 Australians alone would lose their lives on bomber operations.

14 May 1943: Sinking of the hospital ship Centaur
The hospital ship Centaur was sunk off the Queensland coast in one of the most controversial incidents of the war. Clearly marked and lit as a hospital ship with the Red Cross a Japanese submarine nevertheless sank her in May 1943. Only 64 of the 332 souls on board survived, including just one of 12 nurses, and images of the sinking Centaur would become part of Australian propaganda for the rest of the war.

29 May 1945: Second Sandakan Death March
Australian and British POWs in Japanese hands, already abused and malnourished, were forced to carry Japanese supplies from Sandakan to Ranau. Hundreds died along the way, perishing of disease, starvation or at the hands of their Japanese guards. The survivors faced further abuse at the hands of the Japanese and by the end of the war only six men of the approximately 1000 to take part in the Death marches were alive.

The day includes a small parade, church service, and wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of the men and women from Australia and Greece that fought and fell in the battle of Crete in May 1941. We pay our respect to those people.

To pay tribute to all Boer War Veterans that fought in our First War as a Nation 1899-1902. A Commemoration service will commence with a march up to the eternal flame by Boer War Veterans descendants, followed by a band, Creswick Light Horse, Boy Scouts, and Girl Guides. All Boer War descendant family members and anyone that has an interest are most welcome.

This service takes place on the nearest Sunday to Memorial Day, an American holiday to remember those who have died in military service. The Association promotes the welfare of American ex-servicemen and women in Australia.

This service is held to remember and commemorate the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal service men and women, who have served Australia in every major conflict from the Boer War to the present.

The annual ceremonial wreath laying service runs for up to an hour. In addition to the welcome address from Aunty Dot Peters and other speeches, there will be performances by the Royal Australian Air Force band and Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place Choir. All members of the public are welcome to attend, and will be invited to lay a poppy in remembrance at the end of the service.