Anzac Day 2025: Thousands gather across Mid West and Gascoyne to mark 110th anniversary of Gallipoli landing

Thousands of people, both young and old, gathered across the Mid West and Gascoyne on Friday to honour the spirit of the Anzacs, paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those who served and continue to serve. From the small town of Three Springs to the communities of Dongara, Exmouth, Morawa, and Carnarvon, dawn and morning services were held to commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, uniting locals in remembrance and reflection. The Shire of Exmouth hosted a moving Anzac Day dawn service, with more than 500 residents and visitors gathering at the Exmouth Cenotaph to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing. The service included traditional elements such as wreath-laying, the Ode of Remembrance, the Last Post, and a period of silent reflection, followed by the traditional Anzac Day march and a gunfire breakfast at the Truscott Memorial Club. Many braved the cool weather in Carnarvon, Mingenew, and Dongara to attend dawn services, with the Shire of Carnarvon praising the community for an “incredible turnout”. “A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended the Carnarvon RSL dawn service and gunfire breakfast,” a shire spokesperson said. “It was a moving reflection of the deep respect and gratitude our community holds for the brave servicemen and women who have served — and continue to serve — our nation.” Nationals MLC-elect Julie Freeman attended the Dongara morning service organised by the Dongara RSL sub-branch, calling it “beautiful” and “respectful” and recognised the “more than 100,000 Australian service personnel who have lost their lives in military operations carried out in our country’s name”. Record crowds came together in Mingenew, Coorow and Carnamah, with each service featuring an inspiring address from Wing Commander Gareth Nielsen, and tributes to local servicewomen and men, brought to life by their descendants. One of the largest motorcades in recent memory, made up of armoured and ex-military vehicles and horses processed through the towns with a commemorative flyover featuring two de Havilland Chipmunks and two Tiger Moths. In Mingenew, TS Morrow Cadets visited from Geraldton and ex-servicemen Brian Colegate and Michael Nettleton attended the dawn ceremony as special guests, while the Mingenew Historical Society prepared a hearty gunfire breakfast and put on an enlightening Anzac display at the Mingenew Museum. In Northampton, Debbie Carson delivered a speech honouring the service and sacrifice of veterans and currently serving members of the Australian Defence Force during a ceremony organised by the Northampton RSL. In Geraldton, an estimated 4000 people flocked to Birdwood House at dawn to pay their respects during a traditional Anzac Day service which featured a main address by Warrant Officer Class 2 Rebecca Murphy, and to witness the gun firing by the 11th Battalion reenactment group, which was followed by a delicious gunfire breakfast. At 11am, members of the armed services including Geraldton police, F-Troop from the Pilbara Regiment, Geraldton Scouts and Navy from HMAS Stalwart III followed a procession of cars and tanks to from the Dome Cafe to Birdwood House for a moving main service. The service featured speeches by Champion Bay High School students Isabella Mitchell and Thomas Parsons and Warrant Officer Scott Campbell, from the HMAS Stalwart III.