75th anniversary of Australian service in the Malayan Emergency

Register to attend this event via the online system

Alternatively, you may provide your name and contact details for registration to DVA via email to Commemorative.Events@dva.gov.au. 

National Commemorative Service

To mark the 75th anniversary of Australian service in the Malayan Emergency, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) will hold a National Commemorative Service at Rond Terrace (Parkes Way) in Canberra (visit Google maps) on 31 August 2025.

The service will be broadcast nationally by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and streamed online to provide members of the community the opportunity to acknowledge the anniversary from their home.

Attendees will be seated underneath a covered marquee with heating, and complimentary tea, coffee and water will be available.

ACT Ambulance services and St John Ambulance will be in attendance.

Key Timings

The National Commemorative Service will run as follows:

• 9:00am – Entry to the site opens
• 10:00am – Pre-service program commences
• 10:30am – Official service commences
• 11:30am – Official service concludes

Registering your attendance

Attendees should register to attend via the online registration system. 

Alternatively, you may provide your name and contact details for registration to DVA via email to Commemorative.Events@dva.gov.au.

A ticket/attendance pass will not be required to enter. However, the registration process will ensure that adequate arrangements can be put in place for parking, shuttle transport and seating.

Attendees with an accessibility requirement will be able to provide details through the registration form. This will allow DVA to plan appropriately and send you relevant details about the service.

Planning your journey

Attendees are encouraged to plan their journey and arrival times carefully. We encourage you to arrive early to ensure you have sufficient time to progress through the entry point and obtain the best possible seat.

A pre-service program will commence at 10:00am and we advise attendees to arrive early and be seated by 9:45am.

Parking

Road closures will surround Rond Terrace, Parkes Way and Wendouree Drive.

No parking is available at Rond Terrace.

There are several parking options for your convenience:

• Park and short walk
• Park and free shuttle bus
• Accessibility parking with free shuttle bus

Park and short walk

Attendees who are comfortable with a short walk (10min - 600m) should park at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) carpark (free of charge) and use the pedestrian underpass under Parkes Way.

Signage will direct you to the service.

Public Parking Map / Short walk opton

Park and free shuttle bus

Attendees who are not comfortable walking from the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) carpark can alternatively park at the Kings Avenue & Parkes Way carpark (Russell Offices) and board a free shuttle bus service to the event.

Accessibility parking with free shuttle bus to the service

A shuttle buses service will be offered to those with accessibility requirements with parking at the Kings Avenue & Parkes Way carpark (Russell Offices).

Staff will be on site to assist and direct you to the shuttle service.

See ‘Park and free shuttle bus / Accessibility parking map’ below.

Park and free shuttle bus / Accessibility parking map

Shuttle buses that accommodate wheelchair users and those with mobility aids will be available.

Shuttle buses will pick you up from the Kings Avenue & Parkes Way carpark (Russell Offices) and drop you off directly at the service, approximately 20 meters from the undercover seating area.

Shuttle buses will be in service as follows:

• Arriving to the event: From Kings Avenue & Parkes Way carpark (Russell Offices) to Rond Terrace: 8.45am to 10.00am
• Departing from the event: From Rond Terrace to the Kings Avenue & Parkes Way carpark (Russell Offices) to Rond Terrace: 11.30am – 12.15pm 

Official and Invited Guest Parking

Official and invited guests will receive an event brief with parking details prior to the event.

Seating and Accessible Seating

Seating will be available for attendees at the service. Limited accessible seating will be available for attendees at the service who have health or accessibility requirements. If accessible seating is required, please ensure that when registering your attendance you nominate and describe your accessibility requirements.

Attendees with an accessibility requirement should make themselves known to DVA staff at the entry gate on arrival.

Attendees who require mobility aids should bring these with them. A limited number of wheelchairs will be available.

Public transport arrangements

Taxi and Uber service

The Rond Terrace slip road will be closed. Taxi’s and Uber’s will need to drop you off at the relevent carpark as per your requirements.

General attendees will need to be dropped off the CIT carpark.

Those with Accesibility needs will need to be dropped off for the shuttle service at the Kings Avenue & Parkes Way carpark (Russell Offices).

ACT public transport

Attendees may catch any regular bus routes to and from the commemorative service and walk from/to the bus stops located in close vicinity to Rond Terrace.

Pedestrians and Cyclists

Attendees may walk, ride or scoot to Rond Terrace. We ask that attendees please follow the directions of government officials on the day.

Bicycle and scooter racks will be located nearby the entry points and will not be permitted inside the service area. The security of your bicycle or scooter is your responsibility, so please ensure you bring your own lock. 

Pedestrian/Bike Path closures and detours

The bike path in front of Rond Terrace will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists during the event. Pedestrians and cyclists will be directed away from Lake Burley Griffin and towards Parkes Way around the event site. See ‘Pedestrian/Cyclist detour’ map below.

Pedestrian/Cyclist detour map

What to take

Please ensure you have everything you will require prior to leaving for the service including any medications, warm and wet weather clothing, appropriate footwear and any mobility aids.

Temporary toilets – including some accessibility toilets – and hand-washing facilities will be installed specifically for the service.

Unfortunately, no infant changing or parenting facilities will be available at the site.

You may wish to bring an umbrella and a blanket for your comfort.

DVA will provide hand sanitiser and face masks should you wish to use them.

Official and public wreath laying

Wreath laying by invited official representatives will occur during the service.

Prior to the conclusion of the service, veteran associations, veterans and families and members of the public who wish to lay a wreath will be invited to do so.

Individuals are to supply their own wreath or floral tribute, and it is their responsibility to carry it with them, care for it and transport it to Rond Terrace.

As the monument for this service will be a temporary structure, wreaths and floral tributes will be moved following the service to the Stone of Remembrance at the Australian War Memorial.

Media

The service will be broadcast live across Australia by the ABC. There will be media present at the service. Attendees should be aware that camera operators move around the site, and that cables may be laid along the ground. Please take care. 

Accredited media will be restricted to designated media zones.

Post-Service Information

At the conclusion of the service, attendees will be asked to remain seated while the Official Party departs, and the post-service procedures are put in place. We ask that attendees remain patient and follow the directions of staff.

Those who need to board a shuttle back to the carpark will need to follow direction of staff on the day.

Background to the Malayan Emergency

Britain declared a State of Emergency in Malaya in June 1948 in response to escalating violence by communist guerrillas seeking to overthrow the colonial administration. Australian involvement in the conflict began with the deployment of two Royal Australian Air Force squadrons to Singapore in 1950. Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy personnel also served in Malaya from 1955.

The Malayan government officially declared the Emergency over on 31 July 1960, however Australian forces remained on anti-communist operations until August 1963. It was the nation’s longest continuous military commitment of the 20th century. Tragically, 39 Australian servicemen died and 27 were wounded as a result of their service in the Malayan Emergency. 

The commemorative service will be held on Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day. Whilst DVA also acknowledges the service of veterans in the Indonesian Confrontation on this day, the focus will be on the service of Australians in the Malayan Emergency.

Resources

DVA develops a range of commemorative and educational materials to further help recognise and remember those who served in the Malayan Emergency. To learn more about Australia's involvement and access these materials, visit our Anzac Portal.

Contact information

Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Phone: 1800 838 372 within Australia
Tel: +61 2 6289 1133 from outside Australia
Email: Commemorative.Events@dva.gov.au