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ANZAC Day (April 25) is a day of immense national pride for Australians. The day primarily commemorates Australia and New Zealand's involvement in both World Wars and the Vietnam War. ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day activities in North Queensland are centred on Cairns, although most towns stage their own local ceremonies. It's fairly uncommon to find any town in Australia that doesn't have some sort of memorial to the ANZACS.
In Cairns, the day's activities begin with a dawn service at the Cenotaph which is followed by breakfast at the RSL Club. An ecumenical church service and wreath-laying service follows and the official activities are usually brought to a close with a street march by the local returned servicemen. There is usually some sort of concert in the afternoon and much reminiscing by the diggers in the RSL Club and other pubs. In Port Douglas, the day starts with the raising of the Australian flag at ANZAC Park at around 5.30am. There is a dawn service in the nearby town of Mossman and a parade down Macrossan Street, the main street of Port Douglas at around 10.30am, followed by a speech by the mayor. At around noon, the great Aussie tradition, a game of 'two up' begins in the Courthouse Hotel, which continues well into the evening.
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