Lifestyle: Hawthorn Dawn Service

Anzac Day commemorates the anniversary of the first major military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand allied forces in Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April in 1915. Nowadays, it is widely seen as a day of commemoration for personnel serving in all conflicts.

Anzac day traditionally commences with a dawn service, which originates from the army's ‘Stand-to’ routine where troops would be woken in the dark so that by the first rays of dawn, they were in position and alert in case of an enemy attack in the eerie half-light.

Hawthorn RSL will be hosting their traditional dawn service on Tuesday 25 April from 5:45am-6:30am at the Hawthorn War Memorial in St James Park, followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Hawthorn Bowls Club next to the park on the corner of Wood and Denham Street, Hawthorn. The 'gunfire breakfast' was a term coined for the day's first cup of tea served to troops before going on parade.

Hawthorn RSL, 605 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, President Drew Maddison explains: "Hawthorn is the largest traditional sub-branch in the state. Our members have served in all Australia’s conflicts since Vietnam, with the majority having served in Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor. They are examples of the modern Australian veteran. We encourage the local community to join us in commemorating Anzac Day and remembering those who’ve come before us and our mates."

Hawthorn's Shrine Of Remembrance in St James Park will be host to this year's Dawn Service