Wollongong - On Saturday, 25 April 2026, the 111th anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli was commemorated across Australia. Thousands gathered nationwide for Dawn Services and marches to honour ANZAC Day, with significant commemorations held in Wollongong and throughout the Illawarra region. ANZAC Day was also observed in Belgrade at the Commonwealth War Cemetery, organised by the Australian Embassy in the Republic of Serbia, where Ambassador Peter Truswell laid a wreath.
To mark this significant occasion, Ambassador Truswell highlighted the deep ties between our two nations in an interview with the Telegraf.rs portal. He emphasised that, despite already strong bilateral relations, there is immense potential for growth in sectors such as trade, renewable energy, and science. As reported by the portal, the Ambassador particularly noted the vital role of the diaspora: - “Based on the 2021 Australian Census, nearly 95,000 people in Australia claim Serbian ancestry, while more than 57,000 people speak the Serbian language. The Serbian community acts as a vital and highly valued bridge between the two countries through business, culture, sport, education, and family networks," he stated.
ANZAC Day is Australia's most important national occasion. On this day, Australia and New Zealand mark a national day of remembrance for their service members who first saw major military action during the landing at Gallipoli, Türkiye, on 25 April 1915. The Gallipoli campaign was one of the bloodiest of the First World War, claiming the lives of approximately 8,000 Australian and 3,000 New Zealand soldiers.