This ANZAC Day, the NSW Government again acknowledges the sacrifice and bravery of all that have fought for our country. Regional and rural NSW monuments can be found honouring the sacrifice made by soldiers from across the state who enlisted, often from regional communities with a population smaller than the average present day city neighbourhood.

In the first World War (WW1), thousands of young men from regional communities, many who had never even been to Sydney let alone Europe, left safety of their normal lives for war. This was a sacrifice that was echoed through World War 2 (WW2), Korea, Vietnam and even today in ongoing operations around the world.

NSW recorded the highest enlistment rate in the country during WW1, with 164,030 people signing on to join the war. Approximately 21,000 never returned home, leaving bereft communities throughout the state.

When WW2 broke out, the people of NSW once again stood up to defend our nation. Many of the 276,741 people who answered the call to go to war were sons, brothers or relatives of those who served in WW1, still tainted by the fresh memory of the horrors of war.

Today, the reminder of regional NSW’s sacrifice is seen through the war memorials that can be found in nearly every regional and rural town. These monuments have a sombre history in country towns where they were often used as substitute graves that family and friends of those who died in battle overseas were able to visit to remember and pay respects to their loved ones.

Today these monuments act as a congregating place for the local community to come together and commemorate the bravery and sacrifice, and continuing service being from those in our present armed forces.

“The role of regional NSW communities in contributing to the war effort in WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam and even in present day peace-keeping operations cannot be overstated,” says Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty. 

“Families in these communities saw their sons, brothers, and fathers go off to war overseas and were left bereft when many never returned home, having made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

“Today we honour the contribution of all service men and women throughout the country and throughout our history and I thank them for their service, contribution and sacrifice that they have and continue to make in order to keep our country safe.”

No doubt many will continue to gather at The Anzac Memorial in Sydney’s Hyde Park, which sacredly houses 1,701 samples of soil within the walls. This soil represents the names of every town, city suburb and homestead WW1 enlistees once resided in. 

“The Hall of Service demonstrates the geographical reach of the call to serve, and signals the willingness and enthusiasm of so many from diverse regions who answered the call to join the war. It contains the incalculable loss and grief of communities across the state whose men and women did not return,” says Minister for Veterans, David Harris.

“On ANZAC Day, we come together as a community to remember our veterans and current serving members of our Defence Force, many of whom come from regional areas across our state. We pay tribute to their service, and we thank them for their efforts to allow us the freedoms we afford today.”

For this ANZAC Day and all that follow – Lest We Forget.