On Saturday 25 April, Australians nationwide will commemorate ANZAC Day: the anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing during World War I.
Dawn and morning services and other commemorative events will be held across the Onkaparinga region on the day and in the days preceding it, including those listed below.
ANZAC Day is a time to think about the people who have served in the military, the sacrifices they have made, and how war affects all of humanity: those in uniform, civilians and communities, both here and around the world.
To mark the day, Onkaparinga Now once again invites you to read the words of Shane Reiche, president of the Willunga & Districts RSL sub-branch, delivered to the Council to mark Remembrance Day in 2025. Shane’s words are captured in Onkaparinga Now’s article 'The enduring shadows of war'.
Dawn services, Saturday 25 April 2026
Dawn services will be held at the following locations:
- Aldinga War Memorial, Aldinga sports park, Port Road, Aldinga, 6:15am
- Clarendon War Memorial, Grants Gully Road, Clarendon, 6am
- Flagstaff Hill Memorial, Regano Road, Flagstaff Hill, 6:30am
- Kangarilla War Memorial, Kangarilla Recreation Ground, 6:30am
- McLaren Vale Memorial Park, Valley View Drive, McLaren Vale, 5:45am, followed by a gunfire breakfast (by donation) at the McLaren Vale & Districts sub-branch, Aldersey Street, McLaren Vale
- Morphett Vale Eternal Flame Memorial Garden, corner Flaxmill and Main South Roads, 6am, followed by a gunfire breakfast at the Morphett Vale and District RSL, Robertson Avenue, Morphett Vale
- Port Noarlunga Christies Beach RSL, Esplanade, Port Noarlunga, 5:30am
- Willunga War Memorial (behind the Willunga & Districts RSL), Main Road, Willunga, 6:15am.
Morning services, Saturday 25 April
Later morning services will be held at:
- Cherry Gardens Memorial Park, Cherry Gardens Road, Cherry Gardens, 8:30am
- Clarendon War Memorial, ANZAC service, Grants Gully Road, Clarendon, 10:30am followed by morning tea and a pop-up bar at the Clarendon Uniting Church and Museum stables
- Coromandel Community Centre, Main Road, Coromandel Valley, 9am, followed by light refreshments
- Hope Forest Dingabledinga Soldiers Memorial Hall, Brookman Road, Hope Forest, 10am
- Willunga Farmers Market, Willunga High School, Main Road, Willunga, 8am
- Willunga Recreation Park, Main Road, Willunga, prior to the Willunga v McLarens ANZAC Day football match, approximately 2:30pm.
ANZAC Day air force flypasts
A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft will conduct flypasts across the state on Anzac Day. Local flights will be over Aldinga, Port Noarlunga, Christies Beach, and at 10am over Morphett Vale.
Pre-ANZAC Day events
There are also a couple of events happening in the days before ANZAC Day:
- ANZAC Youth Vigil South, 8pm and overnight to take part in the dawn service, Friday 24 April to Saturday 25 April, Eternal Flame Memorial Garden, corner Flaxmill and Main South Roads, Morphett Vale
- Clarendon ANZAC Light Memorial, projecting images onto the township’s buildings and monuments, 7pm to 9pm, Friday 24 and Saturday 25 April.
The council has provided support for a number of the events, including $108,182 through its new Commemorative Event Fund to the Willunga & Districts, McLaren Vale & District, Port Noarlunga Christies Beach, and Morphett Vale and District RSL sub-branches and the Aldinga War Memorial Community Group.
The fund provides grants over 3 years for community gatherings that align with nationally recognised war service commemorative dates and acknowledge Australia’s wartime heritage. Applications re-open in 2028 for the next 3-year period.
In respect and in honour of those lost in war, we will remember them. Lest we forget.