All Victorians have an opportunity to honour and remember the brave Australians who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations on Remembrance Day – Friday, 11 November.
Everyone can observe a minute’s silence wherever they are at 11am on the day – a tradition that marks the moment on 11 November 1918 when the guns fell silent on the Western Front at the end of the First World War, the first moment of peace in four years.
The annual Remembrance Day Service will be held at the Shrine of Remembrance on 11 November from 10.30am, and it will be livestreamed via the Shrine’s web page, Facebook and YouTube channels. Returned and Services League Sub-Branches will also host local services across Victoria.
Veterans, war widows and current defence members can travel for free on public transport to these services, including on V-Line.
To claim free travel, they will simply need to be wearing a uniform or service medals or show a returned from active service or war widows badge or present their Department of Veterans’ Affairs gold or white card, or category V Victorian public transport concession card.
Free public transport is also open to school students, Scouts, Guides, Australian Defence Force cadets and band members in uniform.
RSL Victoria is also stationing more than a dozen buglers throughout Melbourne’s CBD on Remembrance Day to sound the Last Post and Rouse at 11am.
Leading up to Remembrance Day, the Shrine of Remembrance is also offering 11 Days of Remembrance, which includes a Lest We Forget light installation and Red to Remember, which will see the Shrine and other Melbourne landmarks light up red in the 10 days leading up to Remembrance Day.
For more information about the 11 Days of Remembrance activities and the Victorian State Remembrance Service, please visit .
Victorians can show support for the veteran community by buying and wearing a poppy through RSL’s Poppy Appeal in the lead up to Remembrance Day. For more than 100 years, the Poppy Appeal has raised funds used by RSL to support Australian veterans and their families when they need it.
Poppies are available for purchase at local RSLs, participating Woolworths and Officeworks stores and from volunteers in the local community. To donate to the Poppy Appeal online or learn more, visit .
Quotes attributable to Minister for Veterans Shaun Leane
“We will never forget the courage and sacrifice of all those men and women who served and continue to serve this nation in war, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.”
“Remembrance Day provides a special opportunity to honour the bravery and service of those who have fallen, and reflect on the sacrifice of the veteran community.”
Media contact: Emily Bourke 0428 889 493 | emily.bourke @minstaff.vic.gov.au