March 2008

Dear members and friends of the Australian and New Zealand communities,

As you may be aware, the Australian and New Zealand Commerce and Industry Offices in Taiwan jointly host a dawn memorial service on 25 April each year (Anzac Day) to commemorate our fallen.

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the landings of Australian and New Zealand forces in the Dardanelles at Gallipoli, their first major military action in the First World War.? Those first Anzacs have been followed into battle and peacekeeping operations by countless other Australians and New Zealanders over the years, operations from which sadly many never returned.? The dawn ceremony is a time for us to reflect on the many meanings of war, and honour those who have died.

Today, with Australian and New Zealand troops involved in more operations abroad than at any other time in the previous three decades – in military, peacekeeping or nation-building operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Timor, the Solomon Islands and elsewhere - Anzac Day has a deeper and more personal meaning for an increasing number of Australians and New Zealanders, young and old.? This has been reflected in recent years in attendance at Anzac Day commemorations around the globe.

On behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Commerce and Industry Offices, I hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend this year’s dawn ceremony, which will be held in the garden of my residence (map attached). Coffee and rum to be served from 06:00 on Friday 25 April.

The service will begin at 06:30 and take approximately half an hour, after which a light breakfast will be served.

Yours sincerely

Steve Waters
Representative
Australian Commerce and Industry Office