Every afternoon, at about 4.55pm, the Australian War Memorial farewells visitors with its moving Last Post ceremony in the Commemorative Courtyard. The ceremony shares the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour, which commemorates members of the Australian armed forces who have died during or as a result of their service.
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The event concludes with the playing of The Last Post, a bugle call that has come to symbolise a farewell to those who died in service.
Now a new book has captured the stories of those the ceremony honours, and the profound impact the ceremony has had on so many people.
Emma Campbell, a former journalist with The Canberra Times and now a writer with the memorial, had the honour of writing The Last Post: a ceremony of love, loss, and remembrance at the Australian War Memorial.
The illustrated volume, published by NewSouth, presents a selection of personal stories and images related to the ceremony.
Memorial director Brendan Nelson said the publication captured the essence of the Last Post Ceremony.
"Each time it strikes an emotional chord for everyone present," Dr Nelson said.
Ms Campbell said the ceremony helped to ensure service men and women were "no longer just a name on the Roll of Honour, but a real person, who loved and was loved".
"This book includes just a handful of those stories, but they are representative of the whole. Nurses, infantrymen, pilots, transport drivers, artillerymen, commandoes and seamen – but also husbands, daughters, sons, sisters and brothers," she said.
"I hope this book is a touching memento for those who have attended or participated in Last Post ceremonies, but that it also encourages others to connect with our military history and – perhaps – to come here to Canberra to visit the memorial and take part in a ceremony."
The book retails at $29.99 and is available at the Australian War Memorial shop, online, and at bookstores nationally.
