The ANZAC Day Brunch is Back
If the annual Anzac Day football clash between Collingwood Football Club and Essendon Football Club has become one of Australia’s most iconic Anzac Day traditions, the Anzac Day Brunch has grown into one of the most meaningful ways to begin the day.
Held before the game and following dawn services, the Anzac Day Brunch is more than just a gathering—it is a tribute. Designed to honour the service and sacrifice of Australian men and women in uniform, it reflects the enduring values of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice that define the Anzac legacy.
Since 2012, Military Shop has proudly supported the ANZAC Day Brunch—providing memorable table gifts for attendees and high-value auction items that help the club raise vital funds for its chosen charities. Here's how you can participate.
A Tradition Rooted in Respect
The Anzac Day Brunch was created with a clear purpose: to provide a space where people can come together to pause, reflect, and remember.
While Anzac Day ceremonies are often formal and solemn, the brunch offers a more personal setting—one where stories can be shared, connections strengthened, and respect paid in a meaningful, communal way.
It serves as a bridge between the quiet reflection of dawn services and the energy of the day’s major events, grounding the experience in remembrance.
"It is always an honour and our great pleasure to support organisations and events like this that support our Anzacs," says Stephen Davie, managing director of BrandNet.
More Than Just a Meal
At its heart, the Anzac Day Brunch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is not really about the food. It’s about honouring those who have served.
Each gathering is carefully shaped to reflect the significance of the occasion. From the tone of the event to the structure of the program, everything is designed to ensure that remembrance remains front and centre.
Guests can expect:
- Moments of reflection and tribute
- Recognition of servicemen and women, past and present
- A respectful and unified atmosphere
- Opportunities to connect with like-minded attendees
This combination transforms the brunch into a shared act of remembrance, rather than a typical social event.
A Key Part of the Anzac Day Experience
For many attendees, the Anzac Day Brunch has become an essential part of the day’s tradition—an experience that sits naturally alongside the nation’s most significant moments of remembrance. Positioned between the quiet reflection of dawn services and the scale of larger public events, it adds depth and meaning to the day before it fully unfolds.
In this setting, attendees are given the space to pause and reflect, carrying forward the emotions and significance of the morning’s ceremonies rather than moving on too quickly. It creates an opportunity to engage more deeply with the meaning behind Anzac Day—transforming remembrance from something observed into something personally felt and understood.
Just as importantly, the brunch brings people together in a respectful and shared environment. Whether among friends, family, veterans, or the wider community, it fosters conversations, storytelling, and quiet moments of connection that reinforce the values at the heart of the day.
In doing so, the Anzac Day Brunch strengthens the bond between commemoration and community. It ensures that remembrance is not only honoured through formal tradition, but also carried forward through shared experience, making it a lasting and meaningful part of the Anzac Day journey.
Honouring the Anzac Spirit
Central to the Anzac Day Brunch is the preservation of the Anzac spirit—a timeless set of values that continues to resonate across generations of Australians. These values are not confined to history; they are living principles that shape how we remember, connect, and support one another today. These include:
- Courage in the face of adversity
- Endurance through hardship
- Mateship and loyalty
- Sacrifice for a greater cause
One of the most powerful aspects of the Anzac Day Brunch is its ability to bring people together. Veterans, families, supporters, and members of the wider community gather in one place, united by a shared respect for those who have served. This sense of unity reinforces one of the most enduring elements of the Anzac legacy: mateship.
It’s in these shared moments—conversations, reflections, and quiet acknowledgements—that the true meaning of Anzac Day is carried forward.
A Lasting Tribute
As Anzac Day continues to evolve, traditions like the Anzac Day Brunch play an important role in ensuring that remembrance remains both relevant and meaningful.
By creating space for reflection within a communal setting, the brunch keeps the stories and sacrifices of service personnel alive in a way that resonates with modern audiences.
As guests leave the brunch for the roar of the MCG, the meaning of the morning stays with them. The Anzac Day Brunch reminds us that remembrance goes beyond ceremony—it lives on through storytelling, connection, and support. In this way, the values of courage, sacrifice, endurance, and mateship continue to endure, not just on 25 April, but in how we choose to remember and give back each year.
