ANZAC Day Archives - Milton Today

For the first time in 123 years of trans-Tasman rugby rivalry, the Wallabies will play the All Blacks on ANZAC Day to contest the Bledisloe Cup, with Suncorp Stadium locked in to host the historic fixture in 2027, 2029 and 2031.

New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia announced the new tradition together, confirming the inaugural match will kick off in a family-friendly early afternoon time slot on Sunday 25 April 2027, placing one of sport’s fiercest Test rivalries on one of both nations’ most significant shared days.

A century of rivalry meets a century of remembrance

The Bledisloe Cup has been contested between Australia and New Zealand since 1931, though the two nations have faced each other in Test rugby since 1903.

The decision to anchor a fixture to ANZAC Day draws on the deep historical and cultural ties the two countries share, ties forged not just through sport but through the men and women who served together in conflicts from Gallipoli to the Western Front and beyond.

New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster said the combination of sporting rivalry and shared history made the timing feel genuinely meaningful. “New Zealand and Australia share a special and unique bond built on sporting rivalries, friendship and those men and women who have served our countries in global conflicts, some making the ultimate sacrifice in doing so,” he said.

“Playing the Bledisloe Cup on ANZAC Day creates a unique trans-Tasman sporting occasion that honours our countries’ shared history and cultures, while bringing people together through rugby.”

Brisbane takes centre stage

Brisbane’s large New Zealand diaspora made it a natural home for the fixture. Lancaster noted that the city had long functioned as a home away from home for New Zealanders living in Australia, and that the ANZAC Day Test would give those communities a reason to gather on one of the most resonant days in both nations’ calendars.

“Brisbane has long been seen as a home away from home with a large New Zealand population living there and we see this as a huge opportunity to work in partnership with Rugby Australia to grow the game in a key market,” Lancaster said.

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh said the first-ever ANZAC Day Bledisloe would do more than fill a stadium. “The first ever staging of an ANZAC Day Bledisloe Cup Test will, we believe, create a new trans-Tasman sporting tradition that will bring our nations together and reinforce our shared values,” he said.

Suncorp Stadium and the fixture structure

Suncorp Stadium holds 52,500 seats across three tiers and has a well-established record as one of Australia’s premier rugby venues.

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The stadium is directly connected to Milton train station via a dedicated pedestrian walkway and sits within walking distance of the Milton CityCat terminal, making it easily accessible for large match-day crowds.

Each ANZAC Day Test will kick off a three-match Bledisloe Cup series, with Australia and New Zealand meeting twice more later in the year during The Rugby Championship. The series will return to two Tests in 2028 and 2030 because of the Nations Championship schedule.

The Wallabies will run out at Suncorp Stadium for the three confirmed ANZAC Day fixtures on Sunday 25 April 2027, Wednesday 25 April 2029 and Friday 25 April 2031, all at Suncorp Stadium.

Ticketing details will be announced at a later date.

Published 2-July-2026

In Milton, a garden built by veterans stands as a lasting reminder of the 41 Australians who died in the Afghanistan war, and the many more who came home carrying wounds that cannot be seen. Known as “42 for 42,” this grassroots memorial is more than a tribute, it is a space shaped by the very people it honours.

A Community’s Space for Healing

Located next to Suncorp Stadium in Milton, the 42 for 42 Afghanistan Memorial Garden is a peaceful tribute to Australia’s modern military history. Created privately by veterans and families, it honours the 41 soldiers killed in action and those lost to psychological wounds like PTSD and depression.

A mural by artist Lee Harnden anchors the space, featuring The Ode, the Australian flag, and a Special Forces soldier. Together with the garden, it creates a place for reflection. The not-for-profit 42 for 42, run by former soldiers, supports veterans and their families after service.

*Photo Credit: Brent Saltmarsh/Google Maps*

Built by Veterans, Backed by Brisbane

The garden’s creation was deeply personal. Veterans marched 42 hours with 40-kg packs to highlight the burdens carried beyond combat. Funded partly by a Saluting Their Service Grant, much of the work relied on volunteers and community support.

Since its dedication in 2021, the memorial has become a place where Anzac Day services have taken on new meaning. Local schools now include the Afghanistan conflict in their tributes, laying wreaths alongside those for Gallipoli and Kokoda. Families visit not only to grieve, but to connect with others who understand their loss.

The First to Fall — And a Family’s Legacy

Sergeant Andrew Russell was the first Australian soldier killed during the Afghanistan campaign. A career member of the Special Air Service Regiment, he died when the vehicle he was travelling in hit an explosive device. His death marked the beginning of a long chapter in Australia’s military involvement overseas.

*Photo Credit: Andrew Russell Veteran Living/Facebook*

His family later founded Andrew Russell Veteran Living (ARVL), a charity providing transitional housing and support for at-risk veterans. Born from loss, like the Brisbane garden, ARVL continues to offer practical help for the difficult shift from combat to civilian life.

A Modern Meaning for Anzac Day

The 42 for 42 Memorial Garden is a sign that remembrance in Australia is changing. While Gallipoli remains central to the national identity, the names remembered at Milton are a reminder that service and sacrifice are not confined to the past.

This memorial, created by those who served and those who suffered, gives families a place to remember, veterans a space to reflect, and communities a reason to keep the conversation going.

As more people visit the garden each Anzac Day, it becomes clearer that remembrance in Australia is not about choosing between past and present, it’s about honouring both.

Published 9-April-2025

Tag: ANZAC Day

Brisbane to Host the World’s First Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Test at Suncorp Stadium