ANZAC Day 2023: Lest We Forget
This morning, Northern Health held its annual ANZAC Day Service at Bundoora Centre.
Our ANZAC Day Service has been closely associated with our patients for over a decade, particularly those at Bundoora Centre. The service provided an opportunity for us to gather together to remember, reflect and pay tribute to those who made great sacrifices to make our country a safer place.
The service opened with a mounting of the Catafalque Party from the Defence Force School of Signals, Simpson Wing, before our master of ceremonies, Lisa Cox, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, and Jason Cirone, Chief Allied Health Officer, welcomed everyone.
“On 25 April, 1915, Gallipoli was the site of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War,” Lisa said.
“Today, we remember and honour the 60,000 Australians who were killed and 156,000 wounded or taken prisoner in that war. We also remember over 800 Aboriginal Australians who landed at Gallipoli, 13 of whom were killed in action. We remember the more than 3,000 Australian civilian nurses, who volunteered for active service in the First World War. Today we also pay tribute to more than 1.5 million service men and women, who have served our country.”
Representatives from across the health service featured and attended the service, including Jennifer Williams AM, Board Chair, Linda Rubinstein, Board Director and Siva Sivarajah, Chief Executive.
Members of our local community were also in attendance this morning, including Colin Brooks MP, State Member for Bundoora, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers and Minister for Child Protection and Family Services, Dal Crocker, RSL Victoria, David Boyle, Bagpiper, Watsonia RSL, Bill Pattinson, Bugler.
Our very own Northern Health Choir, sponsored by Northern Health Foundation, participated in the ANZAC Day Service, singing The Lord’s Prayer and the Australian National Anthem.
Thank you also to the Catafalque Party from the Defence Force School of Signals, Simpson Wing, for providing their services today.
To watch a recording of the service, please click here.