ANZAC Day in Antibes 2018 in a Nutshell

In Antibes, and all over the world, on the 25th of April, Australians and New Zealanders (and more recently the Irish, British and French) commemorate the service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. 2018, as the centenary of the end of WW1 is especially important.

Here in Antibes, with the support of Jean Leonetti, the Mayor of Antibes Juan-les-Pins, the Association ANZAC ANTIBES has organised for the 6th consecutive year, 2 bilingual, international and official ANZAC Day ceremonies.

Date: Wednesday, 25th April 2018

Time: 5:30am Dawn Ceremony and 11:00am Main Ceremony

Place: At the foot of “le Poilu” at the Fort Carré in Antibes

Parking: Ample free parking in the Fort Carré and opposite

Breakfast and Lunch after each ceremony at Le Blue Lady with “mate’s rates” for ANZAC Day in Antibes attendees. Colgan’s Brewery supplying a free keg of “Pirate” ale for attendees.

ANZAC Day is commemorated on the anniversary of the landing of mainly Australian and New Zealand troops on the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915. They were part of a largely British force that also contained troops from France, Ireland, India and Newfoundland. So started an 8-month campaign that can only be described as an unmittigated disaster where tens of thousands of soldiers lost their lives and thousands more were injured. Although the Gallipoli campaign was unsuccessful, every year, on the anniversary of the landing, at dawn, we honour the courage of those who fought in WW1 but also those who served and fought and lost their lives in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions.

The Mayor of Antibes Juan-les-Pins recognises and supports the large and growing english-speaking community in Antibes and the surrounding region. Numerous elected officials will be present along with representatives of the many local French Veterans’ Associations. The Royal British Legion is also represented.

April marks the dawn of the yachting and tourist season and we see the numbers of the Expat community boosted by the arrival of tourists, visitors and yachties, many of whom choose to attend ANZAC Day and are warmly welcomed if they wish to do so. At the 5:30am Dawn Ceremony we can expect up to 100 people, double that at 11:00am.

This year, especially since falling during the school holidays, we are expecting particpants of all ages. We have numerous expat local children particpating, making speeches and raising their flags of origin.

We also have the pleasure of the company of a class of exchange students from Newlands College in Wellington, New Zealand who are here as part of a 3 government (Australia, New Zealand and France) educational program “Shared Histories”. The students are here in partnership with the College Nucera in Nice. 2 brave students from New Zealand, Hannah Malden and Hana de Meo will be making speeches at the 11:00am ceremony.

ANZAC in Antibes would not be possible without the sponsorship from a myriad of small businesses from Monaco to Antibes, passing by Nice and Cagnes-sur-Mer: The WAKA Bar and Ma Nolan’s Irish Pubs, Algiz Security Monaco, Riviera CBay, MediaSense, Access Riviera, Creatif Flowers to name a few.

For more information visit our website by clicking on the logo below. You can follow us on Facebook at ANZAC Day in Antibes. 
 

All photo credits: Michel Tolosano courtesy of ANZAC Antibes.