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Today, the first Wednesday of September, marks the commemoration of the Battle for Australia and the acknowledgement of the bravery of all those who served on the home front protecting Australia’s shores during World War II.
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Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said Battle for Australia Day is an important reminder of a challenging time for the nation between 1942 and 1945.
"Battle for Australia Day commemorates the first time in the history of European settlement that Australia came under attack, and recognises those who served in defence of the Australian mainland, and in land, air and sea battles in the Coral Sea, Papua and New Guinea, in actions that stopped the Japanese southward advance," Minister Chester said.
"On 19 February 1942, during Japanese air raids on Darwin, around 250 Australians and personnel from other nationalities died on Australian soil. In 1942 and 1943, other areas of northern Australia also suffered air raids including an attack on Broome in which Dutch refugees were killed."
Minister Chester will attend today's ceremony at the Australian War Memorial to lay a wreath on behalf of the Australian government.
"Nineteen Australians and two British sailors also died when Japanese Midget submarines launched a surprise attack on Sydney Harbour in May 1942 and sunk HMAS Kuttabul," the minister said.
"Thousands of Australians were engaged in actions against Japanese forces during the Battle for Australia, including those who fought to drive off attacks against the Australian mainland. Today we remember their sacrifice and thank them for their service. Without their efforts the impact on our nation could have been far worse and the course of the war might have been very different."
The date also coincides with the 80-year anniversary of prime minister Robert Menzies announcing the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Second World War, with over a million Australians serving in the war in Europe, the Mediterranean and north Africa, south-east Asia and the Pacific.
