• The Australian Chamber of Commerce Macau held a dawn service to commemorate ANZAC Day.
• The service saw members of the Australian and New Zealand communities reflect on shared history and sacrifice, strengthening ties for the future.

Members of the Australian and New Zealand communities gathered at dawn on 25 April to commemorate ANZAC Day, honoring the sacrifices of the fallen heroes from the two countries in the first World War.

Organized by the Australian Chamber of Commerce Macau (AustCham), the event was held in the ballroom of the Grand Hyatt, shifting inside due to the weather.

Dr Billy Chan, Chairman of AustCham, commenced the service with a prayer, highlighting the strong links between Australia and New Zealand and memorializing their sacrifices. Vice-Chair Leanda Lee followed with a commemorative reading, exemplifying the significance of ANZAC Day through her own family’s experiences and reminding how their legacies influence the communities’ daily lives.

Mary Bolton, from the Australian Federal Police, delivered poignant renditions of poems, followed by heartfelt contributions from Australian Consul Clayton Bowman and New Zealand Consul Richard Wilson.

Former RAAF officer Mark Campbell also shared his reflections at the event, after which master of ceremonies Stephen Berry guided the service to a chorus of commemorative anthems, sung in tribute to the shared history of the two nations, with the notes of “The Last Post” fading into a minute of honorary silence.

The gathering exemplified the strong ties between the two nations and their communities abroad, drawn together by shared history and the enduring spirit of ANZAC.