Anzac Service and Parade 2026

KRACU Senior Under Officer Sophia

The Anzac Service and Parade remains one of the most significant moments in the Knox and Ravenswood calendar because it calls us back to the values that shape who we are. It reminds our community that courage, service and unity are not abstract ideals – they are lived commitments. When we gather, we honour the Anzacs, but we also reaffirm the kind of people we aspire to be. For our students, it is a powerful lesson in character; for our families and staff, it is a moment to stand together in gratitude and purpose. This ceremony strengthens the threads that bind our community across generations.

This year’s 2026 Service and Parade carried a renewed sense of clarity and conviction. There was a shared understanding that remembrance is not simply about looking back, but about choosing how we move forward. Our students stepped into their roles with a maturity that spoke volumes about their respect for the day. The reflections shared, the music offered and the silence we held together all pointed to the same truth: that the legacy of the Anzacs continues to shape our identity and our responsibility to one another. It was a service defined not by spectacle, but by sincerity.

What moved me most was witnessing the quiet strength of our community. I felt it in the way students supported one another, in the attentiveness of families and in the collective stillness that settled over us during The Last Post. In those moments, I saw a community not just remembering but embracing the values we hope to pass on. I felt proud – not only of the way the day unfolded, but of the spirit our young people carried into it. Their respect, their presence and their willingness to honour something bigger than themselves gave me great confidence in the future they will shape.

Captain Doug McGrath – President of the 9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Association

I am a third-generation military veteran, so Anzac Day is to me, Australia’s most important national commemorative day. So too for the community, the Anzac Day Service and Parade is the highlight of each year. As a parent of three Knox Cadets, I have attended this superb event for almost thirty years, and this year was just as exceptional.

It is a day of deep reflection as we honour those who fought and died for peace and the freedoms we all enjoy today. Over the years we have been honoured by some great Australians as the Reviewing Officer. This year, the outstanding address by Brigadier McCammon was brilliantly researched and delivered, as he wove the emotional stories of Old Boys who had previously served our nation, into lessons for the young people of today to follow. It is a day on our calendar not to be missed.

But the day belongs to the students.

The Senior Student Cadet Officers ran both the Service and Parade, seamlessly and professionally. It is hard to remember they are still school students.

The commitment and discipline displayed by those in the Honour Guard, Catafalque Party and Flag Party were exceptional. The Knox Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Gallery Choir performing in the Great Hall were inspirational and uplifting, setting the first-class standard of excellence from the moment we sat down. The most spine-tingling and moving moments, however, were delivered by the Antiphonal buglers who played The Last Post and Rouse.

The superb Knox Pipes and Drums is the heart of the parade every year and their level of excellence was on display again for all the see and hear.

As an army veteran and long-serving Cadet Officer, I get a lump in my throat to see our Cadet Unit, which is bigger than an infantry battalion, spread across the whole of Knox 1. The cadets, all Knox or Ravenswood students, dressed in their striking red tartan kilts or camouflage uniforms, combine with the magnificently turned-out band to present a first-class ceremonial spectacle of which they can each be exceptionally proud. I can assure you, all the staff who have contributed to their training were proud of what they achieved.

The Cadet program is designed as a Personal Development and Leadership program based on the military model.

To see over a thousand student cadets perform with such discipline, teamwork and skill over such an extended period, is testimony to the hard work and diligence each cadet has undertaken under the guidance of a dedicated team of staff.

As adults, they will all be better people from the personal development, leadership and maturity they have achieved throughout their cadet journey.

That’s what makes me so emotional and proud.

KRACU Commanding Officer Ainsley Hart

The Anzac Memorial Service for the Old Knox Grammarians’ Association and the Ceremonial Parade of the Knox Ravenswood Army Cadet Unit holds deep significance for the Knox community as a collective act of remembrance, honouring the service and sacrifice of Old Knox Grammarians and all Australians who have served. It is a moment where the values that underpin both the Cadet program and the wider school, service, respect, discipline and leadership, are made visible through ceremony and shared reflection.

This year, the connection between past and present was especially meaningful, as the service reminded students that many of those we commemorate were once in their position, participating in the same pursuits and community life. In this way, the occasion is not only about remembrance, but about reinforcing a sense of responsibility in current students to uphold those enduring values as they move forward.

The 2026 Anzac Service and Parade was conducted to an exceptionally high standard, with the entire event unfolding with a sense of precision and cohesion that reflected significant preparation across the unit. Despite overcast conditions, the weather held throughout, allowing the ceremony to proceed uninterrupted.

A defining feature of this year’s service was the address delivered by Brigadier David McCammon, DSM and Bar. His remarks were both eloquent and deeply considered, drawing a powerful connection between the Old Knox Grammarians we remember and the students standing on parade. His reflection on Lieutenant Robin Pothof (OKG64) brought into sharp focus the reality of service and sacrifice, while reinforcing the broader role of Cadet programs in developing future Australians committed to service in the broader context.

The Parade itself, through many rehearsals, reached an impressive standard of drill, dress and bearing across all companies. The ceremonial elements were further elevated by the integrated contributions of Pipes and Drums, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Gallery Choir, whose performances shaped the tone of the occasion and reinforced its solemnity.

What stood out most was the culmination of so many elements of school life coming together in a single, unified act of remembrance. The collaboration between the Cadet Unit, Pipes and Drums, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Gallery Choir created a powerful and cohesive experience, highlighting both the scale of the event and the depth of student involvement across the school.

Equally impactful was observing Brigadier McCammon’s deliberate engagement with cadets during the inspection. His willingness to pause, speak with individuals, and acknowledge their efforts left a clear and lasting impression, underscoring the significance of the day for those on parade.

It is important to recognise that the success of the Service and Parade is the result of sustained effort over time. The standard observed on the day reflects weeks of rehearsal, refinement and attention to detail across all groups involved. The noticeable improvement in drill, dress and bearing from initial rehearsals to the final Parade is a testament to that commitment.