Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull writes for the Wentworth Courier about Anzac Day on the Western Front

Our leader Malcolm Turnbull is spending Anzac Day on the western front. Here’s his message to Wentworth Courier readers.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks to his local electorate of Wentworth about spending Anzac Day where WWI was waged. Photo: www.timbauerphoto.com

This Anzac Day, I’ll be on the Western Front in France honouring the courage and the sacrifice of Australian soldiers in World War One.

100 years ago, at Villers-Bretonneux, our diggers confronted the westward march of the German Army and turned the tide of the war.

What they achieved in the mud of the Somme has echoed through time. Their courage and their selfless sacrifice will never be forgotten.

The Australians on the Western Front were led by a giant of a man. General John Monash was a citizen soldier, a great engineer, teacher and planner.

He was a general who knew his fortunes on the battlefield hinged on the physical and emotional welfare of his men. He delivered them hot meals and dry clothes and rotated them away from the front to recuperate whenever he could.

The new museum at Villers Brettonneaux, France, being opened by the Prime Minister on Anzac Day

He was a meticulous planner. Every one of his men knew exactly where they were going, who they would encounter and what they must achieve.

This great Australian revolutionised warfare on the Western Front and is rightly revered both in France and at home.

So it will be a great honour to open at Villers-Bretonneux, the Sir John Monash Centre; a new museum commemorating the bravery and brilliance of the Australian soldiers on the Western Front.

This is important — across the century since, our service men and women have fought and died defending our values.

And this Anzac Day, we thank them for their service and their sacrifice as we thank all those who serve today.

The best way to honour the Diggers of 1918, is to support the service men and women, the veterans and their families of today.

Lest we forget.

EASTERN SUBURBS ANZAC SERVICES

1. Bronte and Coogee

Bronte RSL is holding a 5am dawn service at the Stone of Remembrance at Waverley Cemetery on St Thomas Street, Bronte, while the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club March and Memorial Service starts at 10.30am. Coogee Randwick Clovelly RSL has an Anzac dawn service at Coogee Beach from 5.30am. The last two years have seen over 20,000 people gathered at Coogee in pre-dawn darkness to honour the service of our original ANZACs.

2. Bondi

The North Bondi RSL Club dawn service takes place against the backdrop of Bondi Beach, starting at 6am. Waverley/Bondi Junction RSL has a community march to Waverley Park at 7.15am, with a commemorative service at the Cenotaph there from 7.30am. Bondi Bowling Club has two-up on the green from 10am, with a barbie and lawn bowls, and The Bucket List opens at 11am with music and two-up in the courtyard.

3. Vaucluse, Watsons Bay and Double Bay

Mark Moran Vaucluse is holding an Anzac ceremony by the flagpole at Laguna St from 9.30am, featuring guest speakers from the Royal Australian Army and a free morning tea. Woollahra Council’s wreath laying ceremony is at the Steyne Park Cenotaph in Double Bay at 9am, and from noon the Watsons Bay Hotel has two-up with live music, DJs and the NSW Pipe Band.

4. Redfern

The annual Anzac Day Coloured Diggers march starts at the Redfern Community Centre at 10am. The march is from the Community Centre to the Block then to the Cenotaph and Memorial at Redfern Park where there will be a flag raising and wreath laying ceremonies followed by entertainment, including legendary singer John Paul Young.

5. Paddington and Surry Hills

Paddington is the place for two-up. Local venues running games and entertainment include the Paddo RSL from 2pm; the Village Inn from 11am; and the Bellevue Hotel from noon, also showing AFL and NRL games live. At the Keg & Brew in Surry Hills, the two-up is hosted by up-and-coming Sydney comedian Bec Charlwood.