Hundreds of students marching into Anzac Day for 25th anniversary of RSL Cockburn’s youth parade and service

Australia’s largest Anzac youth parade and ceremony is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a march in Cockburn.

Around 1,300 students from 30 schools, including those across Cockburn and Fremantle, will gather in Spearwood on April 22 before marching down Spearwood Avenue to RSL Memorial Park for the Anzac youth service.

The parade, led by vehicles belonging to the Veteran Military Vehicles Group, will also include the Scotch College pipe band and the City of Cockburn pipe band.

The Cockburn sub-branch of the RSLWA organizes the ceremony each year with the support of Cockburn council.

Cockburn youth advisory collective member Lilijana Nicholls said events like these were important for young people to understand the importance of Anzac history.

“The ANZAC youth parade is an incredible opportunity for young people to come together and remember the sacrifices made and lives lost in war,” he said.

“It is particularly exciting that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the event and I am honored to be representing the Cockburn youth advisory collective alongside Eva to give a speech.

“Youth-led events like this are so important to CYAC and young people.”

The event began in 2002 when sub-branch boss Arthur Stanton saw similar concepts elsewhere in Australia and was inspired to organize a local event on a larger scale.

Mr. Stanton said the youth parade and ceremony was important to allow students to march as their ancestors did before them.

“I thought it was a great idea for all our schools to do the same thing,” he said.

The event is largely student-led; students do all the readings and organize the wreath-laying ceremony.

The Seton College choir performs the Australian and New Zealand national anthems.

The event has grown significantly from 12 schools participating in 2002 and has now spread to two major suburban towns and schools, including Atwell College, Emmanuel Catholic College and South Coogee Primary.

About 2010 the event began to receive support from the Australian Defense Force, which provided a catafalque party for the memorial and a defense officer for the ADF officer Anzac speech.

“I must commend the City of Cockburn mayor, councilors and members of the event management team and the council youth co-ordinator for their ongoing support of the City of RSL Cockburn and our many schools, as well as the support of our many RSL Veterans and members over 25 years,” Mr Stanton said.

“All of this enables us to successfully continue the Anzac youth parade and service for this special and unique annual cadets.”

Anzac commemoration events will also be held at other nearby council sites.

The Applecross sub-branch of the RSLWA is holding a march and ceremony at the City of Melville war memorial in Ardross on Sunday 19 April at 10.15am. Sub-branch members will also host an Anzac Day dawn ceremony and gun breakfast in the RSL Hall at 6am on 25 April.

Fremantle council is holding a day of reflection on April 25, starting with a dawn ceremony at 5.50am at the Monument Hill war memorial and a ceremony at 9am at the fallen soldiers war memorial on Queen Victoria Street. Additionally, a poppy workshop will be held at Walyalap Koort at 9.30 in the morning and a walk from Pioneer Park will be held at 10.15.

Canning Districts RSL sub-branch will be holding a dawn service on Wharf Street at 6am. The City of Canning also held a march down Kent Street at 7:45am and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Civic Amphitheatre and Gardens.

The annual Anzac Day ceremony at Claremont Park will take place from 7.30am, with a commemorative speech and complimentary breakfast.

Major events in Perth’s CBD are also returning in 2026.

Kings Park and Botanical Garden will host a sunset ceremony at the Flame of Remembrance on 24 April, followed by thousands of West Australians gathering for a dawn ceremony and barbecue breakfast at 5.45am at the State War Memorial on 25 April.

St George’s Terrace will again host the Anzac March from 9am to 10.30am, followed by a service in St George’s Cathedral at 11am.

Irwin Street will then become Mateship Lane, offering a licensed bar, live entertainment and traditional two-person games.