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VIDEOS: On Remembrance Day, we reflect on the sacrifices made by those who risked and gave their lives to protect us.

Remembering Australians at War | Video

Remembering Australians at War

Massive crowds gathered for the Ballarat dawn service. PICTURE: ADAM TRAFFORD

Watch the dawn service, flick through the photos and read the stories.

Anzac Day dawn service in Ballarat 2015

SQMS John 'Jack' Woodland Loomes, service number 438, served in the 4th Light Horse Regiment in WW1. 

Grandsons of Bendigo ANZAC veteran Sergeant Jack Loomes share their fond memories of the early enlistee who served in War World 1.

From country lad to a Light Horseman

Before last year's dawn service. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER

The Courier will broadcast the 2015 Anzac Day dawn service in Ballarat live on Periscope.

The Ballarat Anzac Day dawn service live on your phone

WODONGA: Three horse riders tracking the journey their forefathers took to enlist in World War I passed through Barnawartha and Wodonga yesterday.

Tracking their forefathers’ path to war

Marjorie Cameron from Laurieton will be in Gallipoli for Anzac Day.

NINETY year old Marjorie Cameron from Laurieton is preparing for the trip of a lifetime.

Anzac legend: “Ernest would have been very pleased for me.”

Respect: Nancy Sedgwick with a photo of her father, Les Lee, who served in World War I. PICTURE: KATE HEALY

AS AUSTRALIA prepares to commemorate the Anzac centenary, the Sedgwick-Lee family has paid tribute to their own family members who fought in WWI. 


Family tribute to soldiers

Brothers in arms: Surviving World War II Eighth Battalion veterans Jack Oliver, George Addlem and Stan Phillips at their annual reunion on Sunday.
PICTURE: KATE HEALY

A TRIO of surviving Ballarat World War II diggers shared their war stories on Sunday. 


World War II diggers share their stories

RESPECT: Phoenix P12 Community College students Amber Barker-Lovett and Jayke McPherson attach a poppy to one of the plaques along the Avenue of Honour. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER

DRIVERS travelling along the Avenue of Honour would have seen plenty of industrious students on Monday morning. 


Poppies to commemorate all soldiers

POPPY AVENUE: Haddon and District Lions Club member Chris Rigg with one of the 3000-plus poppies that Phoenix P-12 Community College and Ballarat Specialist School students will place at memorial plaques on Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour. 
Picture: Jeremy Bannister


About 3000 poppies will be attached to plaques on the Avenue of Honour on Monday.


Poppies  for all avenue plaques

Recognition: Marg McPhee, Bev Hardenberg with Zac, Lee Crawley with Duke, and Lyn Maniz with Jax. PICTURE: LACHLAN BENCE

THE ultimate sacrifice paid by animals in war will be commemorated this Anzac Day in Ballarat. 


Animals, too, paid ultimate sacrifice during battle

Medal mystery: Wendouree resident Danny Forde found a World War I medal belonging to an English solider. Picture: Kate Healy

A WENDOUREE resident is searching for the descendants of a World War I English solider after he discovered a lost war medallion years ago.


Search for medal family

CLIFFORD Polkinghorne (tree No. 307) was born at St Arnaud, but was a 23-year-old farmer from Scott Parade in Ballarat when he enlisted on October 5, 1914, and joined the 8th Battalion. 

Hero dies ‘in the very front line’ of battle

Art Galley of Ballarat director Gordon Morrison and gallery board chairman Vicki Coltman prepare for the exhibition opening. Picture: Justin Whitelock

A POIGNANT tribute marking the centenary of Gallipoli and the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II will be unveiled at the Art Gallery of Ballarat this weekend.

Art gallery tribute to Australians in wartime

Light horse trooper: Cameraman Matt Leiper and BBC correspondent Phillip Mercer interview Warrant Officer Gary Chandler. PICTURE: KATE HEALY

CRESWICK’s Anzac spirit will be on show around the world in the lead-up to the Gallipoli centenary. 


BBC in town for Anzac  centenary

FORMER Ballarat actor Aaron Glenane stars alongside Sam Worthington in a new mini-series.

New Gallipoli miniseries tells the story of Diggers from Ballarat

THE Creswick Museum will portray stories of the Anzacs at its newest exhibition.

Creswick Museum to share Anzac stories

Tree No. 203: Gordon Crocker was among those who joined the AIF soon after the outbreak of World War I, when he enlisted on August 24, 1914.

Anzac Day centenary: Shrapnel claimed young accountant

UNTOLD stories of Ballarat’s World War I servicemen and women have been revealed for the first time.


Research unearths Diggers’ untold stories

Centenary of the Gallipoli landing at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. A girl places a poppy in the poppy wall at the Shrine. Photo Justin McManus

The commemoration of Anzac Day at the Shrine of Remembrance.

Anzac Day at the Shrine of Remembrance

Poppies placed on the Roll of Honour, after the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Saturday 25 April 2015. Photo Alex Ellinghausen

Photos from the National Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial.

Anzac Day 2015: National Dawn Service 

Discover new people, places and perspectives.

Test your skills with Crossword, Sudoku and Ultimate Trivia.

Danza Hyatt will return for Darley next season. Picture: Adam Trafford

Champion all-rounder to return next summer

A teen has walked away from a slew of charges with probation in a Childrens' Court. File photo.

Teen who threatened to kill friend over drugs and cash granted probation

Shelley Cable says Indigenous employees are not getting the chance to show leadership capability.

Indigenous people left out of senior roles

The Albanese Labor government looks set for a House majority but faces a larger Senate crossbench.

Labor on track for majority government

Victorian MP Bernie Finn says he has been approached by up to seven parties to run for them.

Outspoken Vic Lib MP poised to be expelled

Festive catch: expert forecasts potential COVID-19 disaster over holiday season

Sign up to receive our Breaking News Alerts and Editor's Daily Headlines featuring the best local news and stories.

A file image of a Lake Wendouree musk duck as it makes off with a small redfin. Picture: Jeffrey Crawley 

Careless drivers are adding to the casualties around our lake

Poor vision: A bypass might have saved waste and disruption in Sebastopol

We welcome your comments which may be published on this website and/or in the newspaper.

Send a letter to the editor

BORDER LINE: The pandemic is exacerbating a cultural endemic in our game when it comes to low umpire numbers. This is a crucial time to offer more umpire support if we want our game to bounce back strong. Picture: Adam Trafford

Just a whistle? This is a critical point in how we want our footy to play out

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese shake hands at one of the leaders' debates. Picture: AAP

A nine-year-old government that's run out of ideas versus an opposition afraid any idea might lose them the election

Which of these men should lead: Our say

Former prime minister John Howard. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Whoever becomes Australia's federal health minister after May 21 needs to make the introduction of nationally consistent abortion laws a priority.

Women's rights can't be taken for granted

This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning till the end of the election.

The hoary old chestnut of hip-pocket politics no longer cuts it

Independent candidate Zoe Daniel defeated Liberal MP Tim Wilson for the seat of Goldstein in an election that saw a record number of women elected to Parliament. Picture: AAP

Anger about the Coalition Government's lack of action on gender equality has been one of the issues propelling the teal independents into parliament.

Her rights at work: how will women be treated in the new parliament?

Incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signs a poster for twin brothers in Sydney's inner west on Sunday. Picture: AAP

The Teal and Green revolution shows Australians simply want the government to do the right thing.

Let this be the end of the revolving door in government

The hidden impact of Sebastopol's roadworks on businesses

Outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins. Pictures: AAP, Karleen Minney

Every single pollster said the women were coming for Morrison. Every single pollster was right.

Women driving change: The moment that seeded a movement

Australia is 'lucky' to have compulsory voting. Picture: Shutterstock

The UK looks on with envy at our compulsory voting.

Thank God for compulsory voting

Janette Howard and Therese Rein with former prime ministers John Howard and Kevin Rudd in Novermber 2007 after Rudd announced his new cabinet and ministry. Picture: AAP

As I approached the Old Parliament House polling booth earlier this week, I saw the good and the bad.

Why the prime ministership must be earned

Zali Steggall has made her mark in Parliament after beating Tony Abbott at the 2019 election. Picture: AAP

Voters have been turning away from the major parties over the past two decades, for very good reason.

The era of minority government is upon us, and we should welcome it

The radicalism absent from Labor's 2022 manifesto is made up for in the unspoken but no-less transformative erosion of standards by the current government. Picture: AAP, Shutterstock, The Conversation

While the 2022 election is not about the reform possibilities of an incoming government, it is about the urgent need to rescue longstanding governing norms.

Australians face their starkest choice at the ballot box in 50 years. Here's why

The way you vote will affect young people the most - but those under 18 are without a voice this federal election. Picture: AAP

Whether it's the environment, housing affordability or diversity and inclusion, the concerns of young people deserve to be heard at this election.

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