Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Gippsland › Latest news › Darren Chester MP

Australians mark 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, honouring Second World War service, sacrifice, and enduring legacy

Australia marks 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, honouring over one million who served, 40,000 fallen, and the enduring legacy of sacrifice, resilience, and values shaped during the Second World War.

By news@gippsland - 15th August 2025 - Back to News

Today, on 15 August 2025, Australians will mark the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day, commemorating the end of the Second World War in the Pacific and honouring the service and sacrifice of more than one million Australians who served during the conflict.

Australians commemorate 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, marking WWII's Pacific end and honouring over one million who served and sacrificed - Picture credit: Australian War Memorial

Pacific war remembered

Eighty years ago, on 15 August 1945, Japan's surrender marked the official end of the Second World War in the Pacific. For Australia, this brought an end to a direct threat to our shores and concluded a conflict that profoundly shaped our national identity and international outlook.

From the outbreak of war in September 1939, more than one million Australians served across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Navy. By early 1942, Australia was no longer a distant observer. The war had reached our doorstep. The fall of Singapore, the bombing of Darwin, and Japanese submarines in Sydney Harbour made the threat all too real.

The Battle of Kokoda became an enduring symbol of Australian tenacity and sacrifice. At Milne Bay, Australian forces achieved the first decisive defeat of Japanese troops on land. In Borneo, New Guinea, and Bougainville, Australians endured long and costly campaigns to drive back the enemy. The war forged closer ties with the United States and helped define our evolving role in the Asia-Pacific region.

Honouring wartime sacrifice

Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs paid tribute to the almost 40,000 Australians who lost their lives during the Second World War, including approximately 17,000 in the Pacific. "Victory in the Pacific Day is not only a recognition of military success, but also a solemn remembrance of sacrifice, service, and resilience. It is a day to reflect on the courage of those who served and the enduring impact of their actions on the peace and freedoms we enjoy today.

"We lost almost 40,000 Australians, thousands more were wounded, and around 30,000 became prisoners of war, many held in brutal conditions. Australia's wartime experience helped shape a national identity founded on endurance, mateship, loyalty, and courage under fire. "Japan's surrender on 15 August 1945 was met with celebration, but also with deep and lasting remembrance."

"The story of those who served is not only found in the victories they achieved, but in the peace they secured and the enduring values they passed on. Values that continue to define who we are as Australians," he said. The Coalition affirms its commitment to honour the fallen, support the living, and ensure their stories are never forgotten. Lest we forget.

Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

• Danny O'Brien warns Bayside Health merger threatens Gippsland communities, confirming hidden health service consolidation
  Danny O'Brien criticises Labor's Bayside Health merger, warning it will reduce local hospital autonomy, limit community input, and risk services for Gippsland residents, prioritising bureaucratic cost-saving over patient care.
• Darren Chester met Tom Harms in Canberra, praising his WorldSkills selection as testament to talent and community support
  Maffra apprentice Tom Harms will represent Australia in Electrical Installations at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, after excelling through national trials. Darren Chester praised his achievement as Gippsland talent showcased globally.
• Indigenous artist Lionel Rose Junior honoured for Warragul Station Park artwork celebrating culture, community and family legacy
  Indigenous artist Lionel Rose Junior's cockatoo design now features in Warragul Station Park, honouring Kurnai and Gunditjmara heritage, community ties, and his family legacy alongside uncle Lionel Rose's iconic statue.
• Darren Chester honours Legacy volunteers' century of supporting veterans' families at national launch
  Darren Chester praised Legacy volunteers at the national launch, highlighting their century of supporting veterans' families. Legacy Week 2025 will raise funds through badge and bear sales to provide vital services.
• Danny O'Brien criticises Labor for closing Sale and Bairnsdale courts on non-sitting days, inconveniencing locals
  Danny O'Brien condemns the Labor government for closing Sale and Bairnsdale courts on non-sitting days, restricting public access and causing significant inconvenience for Gippsland communities who rely on local court assistance.
• Melina Bath urges communities to honour veterans' families and support Legacy Week fundraising efforts
  Melina Bath urges communities to support Legacy Week, honouring veterans' families. Funds raised provide financial, educational and emotional support, continuing Sir Stanley Savige's century-old vision of care, compassion and mateship.
• Swifts Creek Recreation Reserve officially opens during Omeo District Football Netball League Grand Finals celebrations on Saturday
  Swifts Creek will celebrate the official opening of its $2.9 million upgraded recreation reserve during the Omeo District Football Netball League Grand Final on Saturday, 6 September 2025.
• West Gippsland CMA champions healthy waterways, culture, community, and sustainability across the catchment
  West Gippsland CMA celebrates World Rivers Day by highlighting river health, cultural significance, and restoration efforts. Caring for 40,000km of waterways, they partner with communities to ensure resilient, thriving rivers.
• Labor government delivers $2.73M Sale Hospital upgrade, modernising Community Services building for Gippsland healthcare staff
  The Allan Labor government is delivering a $2.73 million upgrade to Sale Hospital's historic Community Services Building, modernising facilities for healthcare workers, patients, and students through the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund.