Friday, 15 August 2025
Anzac Memorial
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC

On this day, at this time 80 years ago, Hyde Park, the Domain, Martin Place and most of the city streets were packed. It had been a cloudy day and as the sun was setting it was unseasonably warm.^[1] Here at the Memorial an anti-aircraft search light beamed into the darkening sky, not to look for aircraft but as a celebration of peace^[2].

In the Domain about 200,000 people had gathered for a concert held by Radio 2GB to celebrate the end of the war.^[3]

In the proceeding days there had been a growing expectation that an announcement was imminent.

At 8:44 on the morning of the 15^th a morse code message was received in Canberra. The sole word in the message was one which was about to turn the lights of the world on again. The word was NEON. The Prime Minister was advised to standby to make his broadcast to the nation^[4].  

At 9.30 am six words were uttered over the airwaves: “Fellow citizens, the war is over”^[5].

Chifley went on to tell the people of Australia, “The Japanese Government has accepted the terms of surrender imposed by the Allied Nations and hostilities will now cease.”

Deeply cognisant of the range of emotions this news would bring - of relief, hope, joy and sadness he continued: 

“Let us remember, those whose lives were given that we may enjoy this glorious moment and may look forward to a peace which they have won for us. Let us remember those whose thoughts, with proud sorrow, turn towards gallant, loved ones who will not come back.”

Valerie Ireland who has just laid a wreath here, was a Gunner in the Australian Women’s Army Service and was at Victoria Barracks the day the war ended.   She remembers the day well. 

As she recalls: “We went into Martin Place and everyone was kissing everybody. The joy was absolutely amazing. I remember that so vividly, especially the tram ride hanging on with one foot. It was a buzzing day.”^[6]

My mother Lorna Mollie Beazley joined in the exuberance, captured in a wonderful image by Sydney Herald Photographer Gordon Short which is in the Memorial’s virtual gallery^[7]. Nothing could have better revealed the joy and relief of the moment as revellers either ran or hitched a ride down Park Street.

Grace Wood, who will shortly recite the Ode, was a member of the Australian Women’s Land Army. It was my honour to host Grace a few weeks ago at Government House, at a celebration for centenarians – and Grace, I must say it is lovely to see you again.

I understand you were at home with your parents when the announcement of the war was over.  Your recollection of the day conveys so much of what was a mixed truth for many:

“You feel excited to think it's the end of the war. Thank goodness no more boys will be killed. So many people were rushing around town to just scream and be happy, which was great. But then see my brother was killed. So, it was a bit of a mixed feeling for me, glad the war was over and the war to end all wars, you know. But then you think, what sacrifice they've done.”^[8]

The following day, Thursday, the 16^th of August, this area was again packed with people.

That day, the weather was damp and brooding, and the joy of the day before remained but this day edged by the reality that war had cost the nation much.  The Herald reported^[9]:

Before the Victory March began at 9.30, more than 400,000 people had streamed into the city to line the route of the Victory March… to swirl and eddy round the Mitchell Library, where the marching units gathered, or to take up positions in the Domain for the citizens' Service of Thanksgiving.

Sydney had appointed a time to render praise and honour, to meditate, and to remember. Sydney's crowds came, decorously, to that appointment.

80 years later we gather in that same spirit and commit to the cause of peace.

Lest we forget.

[1] https://weatherspark.com/h/d/144544/1945/8/15/Historical-Weather-on-Wednesday-August-15-1945-in-Sydney-New-South-Wales-Australia

[2] https://www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/event/commemorate-80-years-victory-pacific

[3] https://www.smh.com.au/national/victory-in-the-pacific-day-70th-anniversary-20150814-giyzzl.html

[4] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247635635

[5]https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research/Quick_Guides/2020-21/VictoryPacificDay

[6] https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/nsw-stories/valerie-ireland

[7] https://www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/event/exhibition-1945-hot-war-cold-war

[8] https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/nsw-stories/grace-wood

[9] https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17950409/993484