ANZAC Day op Toronto Avenue Cemetery

ANZAC Day - Toronto Avenue Cemetery - Ploegsteert - 24/04/2025

Please find below some pictures of the commemoration on Toronto Avenue Cemetery on Thursday 24 April 2025, on the eve of ANZAC Day 2025.

Please find below the detailed programme of this ceremony:

MC: Lieutenant Colonel Carney Elias

MC welcome
Opening Prayer Reverend Richard Clement
Welcome speech by Madame Alice Leeuwerck, Mayor of Comines-Warneton
Speech by Air Vice-Marshal Di Turton, Australian Defence Force
Hymn “Abide with me” sung by Lies Verholle
ANZAC Poem “Non Nobis” By C.E.W.Bean read by Australian Defence Attaché Carney Elias
Wreath Laying:
- H.E. Angus Campbell, Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, NATO & EU
- H.E. Jennifer Troup, New Zealand Ambassador to Belgium
- Mme Alice Leeuwerck, Mayor of Comines-Warneton
- Air Vice-Marshal Di Turton, Australian Defence Force
- Colonel Lisa Kelliher, New Zealand Defence Force
- Major Michel Doyen, representing the Commandement Militaire de la Province de Hainaut
- Mr. Xavier Puppinck, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Mr. Francois Maekelberg, Alliance of Patriotic Associations – Comines-Warneton
- Members of the public
Ode of Remembrance English H.E. Angus Campbell, Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, NATO & EU
Ode of Remembrance French Mr. François Maekelberg, Alliance of Patriotic Associations – Comines-Warneton
Last Post by Belgian Military Buglers
One Minute Silence
Rouse by Belgian Military Buglers
National anthems sung by Lies Verholle
- Australia
- Belgium (in French)
Final Blessing Reverend Richard Clement
Closing remarks MC

Air Vice-Marshal Di Turton, Australian Defence Force, told the stories of W.C. MC Master and A.G. Gardner who are buried on this cemetery. Children laid flowers at their graves.