ANZAC Day 2022: Gallipoli & Dawn Services Return as COVID Restrictions Ease

ANZAC DAY
Today is ANZAC Day, a day when Australia and New Zealand stop to remember those who have served and died in the military. And for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of the services today were able to go ahead without restrictions! All over the country, hundreds of thousands of Aussie came together, some even in the rain, to commemorate Anzac Day. For Hayden here, he was remembering his great grandfather who served in World War 1. This year is the first time since the pandemic he could attend a public dawn service. ANZAC is an acronym for Australian New Zealand Army Corps, and today is ANZAC day because on April 25th, 1915, Australian and New Zealand forces began their first major military battle, landing on the beaches of Gallipoli in Turkey during World War 1. More than 130 thousand soldiers from both sides were killed in Gallipoli, including more than 11 thousand Anzacs. Now, April 25th is a public holiday, and a national day of remembrance. Services are held around the country at Dawn, and some Aussies even travel all the way to Gallipoli. For the past 2 years, the remembrance service in Gallipoli had to be cancelled because of the pandemic but it made a return today giving the many Australians and New Zealanders who made the trip a chance to pay their respects to those who fought and died in the war, and to remember Gallipoli as the first battle we took part in as a nation.

MACRON WINS ELECTION
Emmanuel Macron has won the French Presidential election! He's the first French President in 20 years to be re-elected, which means he'll be spending another 5 years in the top job! Macron says he wants to continue to bring people together and work towards building a more united France.

SUPER W
History was made this weekend in the Super W Grand Final! Fijiana Drua beat the NSW Waratahs to win the club's first ever championship in its first ever season! Fijiana are the only international team in Australia's top rugby union women's league, and it's safe to say they've taken the competition by storm!

LAUREN JACKSON RETURNS
Lauren Jackson is back! After 6 years of retirement, one of the biggest legends in Aussie basketball history has made her return to the sport playing for NBL1 team Albury Wodonga! She played two games over the weekend and has proven she's definitely still got the goods, clocking 36 points yesterday, and 21 on Saturday. What a comeback!

PERTH WILDCATS
The most famous streak in Aussie sport is over! For the first time in more than 35 years, the Perth Wildcats will miss the NBL finals after tight loss against the Pheonix! It's tough news for Perth, but great news for the Tassie Jackjumpers! It's their first year in the competition, and they've already made their way to the finals! They are certainly jumping for joy.

SWEDEN COW RELEASE
It's been a long winter for these cows in Sweden. This is their first time coming out of the barn, seeing the sun and running around since winter began! They're kept indoors because Sweden stays very cold and very dark during the winter months. But now, it's spring! And time to come out of their shells.

BABY GIRAFFE
Now to another very excited animal, in Chile. Baby Benito the giraffe made its first public appearance over the weekend to mark Earth Day, and remind people that giraffes are an endangered species that need our help. Benito was born on March 21st, but has been living alone with Mum until now. And what better time to come out ya shell.

STAIRS MARATHON
This is a marathon where the track is made out of steps, and just so happens to be the highest skyscraper in all of South Korea. It's the first time the organisers have been able to come back out & hold the race since the start of the pandemic. All up, 800 competitors took part, climbing a whopping 2,917 steps to the finish line on the 123rd floor.
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