Driveway dawn services and candlelit vigils: How Australians commemorated ANZAC Day 2020.

With social distancing measures in place to lessen the spread of coronavirus, annual ANZAC Day traditions were cancelled for 2020.

Rather than attend marches and memorial services, Australians commemorated the solemn day at home.

WATCH: The #LightUpTheDawn initiative this ANZAC Day. Post continues below.

After a callout from the Returned Services League for people to ‘Light up the dawn’, people all over the country stood on their front lawns, driveways, balconies or in their living rooms at 6 a.m. to reflect and honour those who’ve served.

Others went down to their local beaches or stood in front of an RSL club, played The Last Post or tuned into broadcasts of the national service.

Here are 20 photos of how Australians across the country marked what is a very different ANZAC Day.

 

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ANZAC Day 2020 Driveway Dawn Isolation Service. "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." Lest We Forget #thankyou #anzac #anzacday2020 #lightupthedawn #wewillrememberthem

A post shared by Jen Porter (@jen_porter_not_quite_keto) on Apr 24, 2020 at 5:08pm PDT

Yeppoon bugler Ken Diefenbach has played the Last Post many times but never on his driveway.
"When I walked out the door and saw the candles in the street it was pretty tough. I don't think I've ever played it with such a big lump in my throat ..." @abcbrisbane #LightUpTheDawn pic.twitter.com/KTcVsb1a2a

— Erin Semmler (@erinsemmler) April 24, 2020

New Zealand’s oldest living WWII veteran and Ron Hermanns (108) in his driveway on Anzac Day. #AnzacDay #AnzacDay2020 pic.twitter.com/U3LokhmjE5

— Alden Williams (@WilliamsAlden) April 24, 2020

A small group of vets gather outside their units at Anzac Village, socially distanced, for the dawn service. @SBSNews #AnzacDay2020 pic.twitter.com/UHQ6aWdSG4

— Amelia Dunn (@Amelia_Dunn1) April 24, 2020

A special moment of reflection with my Air Cadet son.

We will remember them. Lest we forget#AnzacDay #AnzacDay2020 pic.twitter.com/aTXlhnIXlq

— John Thompson (@jt_comms) April 24, 2020

Anzac Day like no other. 97 years old... airforce veteran #LightUpTheDawn pic.twitter.com/GJQ8LnWdew

— Maria Lenz (@riaxxx97) April 24, 2020

We Will Remember Them
There was a call for all brass players to sound The Last Post at 6am this morning. Bec and I are so grateful to all service men and women, past and present.#StandAtDawn #AnzacDay pic.twitter.com/aHj4G6OWXl

— Andy Lee (@andy_lee) April 24, 2020

 

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Lest We Forget ???????? #lightupthedawn #anzacday2020 #anzacathome A wonderful tribute by families of Alexander, Rolfe, Golf Pde, Manly. ????????

A post shared by James Griffin MP (@jamesgriffinmp) on Apr 24, 2020 at 1:27pm PDT

Standing proud. #AnzacDay2020 #StandAtDawn pic.twitter.com/bZQKLFtxFu

— Sim Hawkins (@Simallyher) April 24, 2020

To come outside onto my driveway to remember the fallen and to see my neighbours there too was quite moving. #StandAtDawn pic.twitter.com/7jJE70K7Qq

— Jo-Anne (@JoDooner) April 24, 2020

#StandAtDawn An Anzac service at our front gate (with distant haunting bugle). Today we thank the service men and women who serve our country, reflecting on those who lost their lives to defend our values of peace, democracy and freedom. We will remember them. #Anzac2020 pic.twitter.com/iouEYnb3Fj

— Nicola Willis (@NicolaWillisMP) April 24, 2020

 

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...at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them #lestweforget #lightupthedawn

A post shared by Louise Grace (@louise_patricia_grace) on Apr 24, 2020 at 5:19pm PDT

Such a heart-warming dawn service with a large (spaced out) group of our neighbours. We’re lucky to have a cracking trumpeter live a few houses up! #standatdawn pic.twitter.com/ipA0T3fkCD

— Becky Green (@DrGreen_design) April 24, 2020

Lest we forget.

Feature image: Getty.