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On Tuesday, 11 November 2025, hundreds of West Australians, including veterans and serving personnel, gathered at the State War Memorial in Kings Park to mark Remembrance Day, commemorating 107 years since the end of the First World War.
In the opening address, RSL WA CEO Stephen Barton said, “For 65 years of the 124 of our Commonwealth, Australian service personnel have been deployed overseas on operations. Serving not for territorial gain, but in defence of the values and virtues that sustain our democracy. Today, we remember those who did not come home. Australia has never fought alone – we have made the causes of our Commonwealth kin and Allies our own, as they have done ours. We also remember their sacrifices.”
The service was led by Mr Barton and included the Ode recital by RSL WA State President Duncan Anderson, a RAAF fly past at 10:30 am, the National Anthem performed by Churchlands Senior High School, and a recital of In Flanders Fields by Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School.
In an interview with 7 News, Mr Anderson said, "We cannot lose sight of what's happened in the past, and we must keep that front of mind to stop us making the same horrendous mistakes in the future. A future so many have fought to protect."
The ceremony also featured the Custodian of the State War Memorial handover, with retiring State Warden Mr Murray Lampard AM APM passing the role to CDRE Warwick Gately AM.
Two Second World War veterans, Mr George Franklin and Mr Russell Hosken, attended alongside dignitaries including His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia and Mrs Dawson; the Hon Roger Cook MLA, Premier of Western Australia; and Mr Basil Zempilas MLA, Leader of the Opposition.
The annual service remains an important occasion to honour those who served and sacrificed.
