2026 Calendar of events
25 April Anzac Day
FFFAIF has traditionally supported AWWOD organising descendants’ participation in the Sydney Anzac Day March.ABC Radio coverage of the Canberra Dawn Service and National Ceremony will be heard on local ABC Radio, RN and on the ABC Listen app from 5.30am – 6.00am. This will incorporate a minute’s silence at approximately 5.50am to synchronise the dawn drive-way vigils.
TV broadcasts of Sydney Dawn Service, Canberra Dawn Service and National Ceremony and Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance Service will all be live from 4.30am AEST on ABC TV and ABC NEWS channels, on iview, and streamed live on ABC Australia Facebook and YouTube.
State TV broadcasts of capital city marches and dawn services will also be streamed live on ABC capital city Facebook accounts and on the ABC’s capital city local radio websites.
Every capital city will have live coverage of a local march, however coverage of capital city dawn services will vary in each state. Broadcasts times can be found on the ABC Anzac Day website.
Gallipoli Day /ANZAC Day services will be held in the UK, including:
a Dawn Service at Hyde Park Corner and later the annual Service of Commemoration with a wreath laying at the Cenotaph followed by a Service held at Westminster Abbey;
Baverstock, Codford, Fovant and Sutton Veny on the Salisbury Plain; and at about 15 other locations in England and Scotland;
Also at the Menin Gate, Ieper; and
Fromelles FranceSaturday 23 May Australian Western Front Association, Gallipoli Association, Fromelles Association, FFFAIF Lecture Day
Sunday 19 July Fromelles Day Commemoration in Sydney at the Anzac Memorial and
Melbourne Wreath-laying at the Shrine of Remembrance and Ipswich in QueenslandSunday 26 July Pozieres Service St Columba Woollahra TBC
Saturday 26 September Commemoration of the Battles of 3rd Ypres
Monday 19 October War Widows Day
Saturday 7th November FFFAIF AGM and John Laffin Memorial Lecture Day
Venue: Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney and AGM On-line Zoom MeetingWednesday 11 November Remembrance Day
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Recent News
- DIGGER 94
- VALE Dame Marie Bashir: Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir, AD CVO
- Patron-in-Chief Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
- DIGGER 93
- 2025 FFFAIF Annual General Meeting and John Laffin Memorial Lecture series
- DIGGER 92
- Fromelles Day 2025 – Commemorating the 109th anniversary in Sydney of the Battle of Fromelles 19 July 1916
- Fromelles Day 2025 – Commemorating the 109th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles 19 July 1916
Author Archives: FFFAIF
ANZAC Day in Gallipoli & France
Are you planning to be in Gallipoli or France for Anzac Day? STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR ANZAC DAY IN GALLIPOLI & FRANCE Ahead of Anzac Day 2012, Secretary for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Mr Ian Campbell encouraged Australians … Continue reading
Ross McMullin’s new book
FFFAIF member Ross McMullin has added another interesting publication to his every list of books: Farewell, Dear People – biographies of Australia’s lost generation. Publisher Scribes Publications described the book as: For Australia, a new nation with a relatively small population, … Continue reading
9 Fromelles Diggers named
DNA tests have identified nine more soldiers killed in the Battle of Fromelles on 19th July, 1916. The graves of these soldiers will now be given their identity in the Pheasant Wood, Fromelles Cemetery. Their names are: Private Leonard Broadhurst (3013) , Sydney, … Continue reading
VALE – Ivan Sinnaeve
Ivan Sinnaeve ‘Shrapnel Charlie’ On behalf of the committee and members of Families and Friends of the First AIF, I express condolences to Marie Claire Sinnaeve, her family and friends on the loss of her dear husband, Ivan, at the age … Continue reading
VALE – Jean Letaille AM
Jean Letaille AM On behalf of the committee and members of Families and Friends of the First AIF I express condolences to the family and friends on the sudden passing of Jean Letaille. We are informed that Jean passed away on … Continue reading
Fromelles ID Board Reconvenes
On the 23 March 2012 the third annual United Kingdom and Australian Joint Identification Board will convene in London in an effort to formally identify some of the remaining 140 unknown soldiers who are buried in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) … Continue reading
Visiting the WF?
Next time you visit the Western Front be sure to pick up one of these useful brochures: “Welcome to the Western Front” (Flanders & Picardy) contains information on accommodation, places to eat, special offers as well as places to visit. The brochure … Continue reading
AWM Plaques unveiled
Members of the FFFAIF were present at the Australian War Memorial on Tuesday 14 February for the dedication of commemorative plaques for the 2nd, 13th, 34th and 54th Australian Infantry Battalions. FFFAIF member and author of Our Gift to the … Continue reading
Memberships Available
Are you interested in becoming a member of the Families and Friends of the First AIF? It’s a simple process and brings with it many benefits including: Annual subscription to our quarterly magazine: DIGGER Access to a network of like-minded … Continue reading
2012 Commemorative Tour
There are still places available on the 2012 FFFAIF Members’ Western Front and Gallipoli Commemorative Tours. If you have always dreamt of visiting the hallowed ground in the footsteps of the Diggers of the Great War, we can get you there! … Continue reading