On a glorious evening at the Sydney Opera House forecourt, the Australian Remembrance Foundation hosted the inaugural Lest We Forget: Harbour Sunset Tribute.

Held for the first time under the famous sails and on the eve of ANZAC Day, the moving ceremony brought together a capacity audience, including the Foundation’s patron, former Governor-General and Defence Force Chief, Sir Peter Cosgrove, alongside political and business leaders.

Among the evening’s highlights were the appearances of centenarian veterans John McAuley, Norma Booth, and Desmond Jones, who received a standing ovation at the close of the program.

There was also a poignant tribute and laying of wreaths in memory of the sailors lost when HMAS Kuttabul was sunk by a Japanese submarine during WWII.

The audience was moved by the odes and performances from the orchestra, the Australian Military Wives Choir, and entertainment icons such as Normie Rowe and Little Pattie. A stirring rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone by tenor Mark Vincent provided a fitting emotional crescendo.

Congratulations to Foundation Chair, Dr Michael Easson AM, CEO and Artistic Director, Anthony McCarthy and the entire team and thanks to our defence, industry, government and media friends who helped make it such a success.

It was a privilege for Primary Comms Group to play a part in such a memorable occasion.

The Foundation and Primary photographers were on hand to capture some of the best moments.

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ANZAC Day is a time to remember those who served, but also the families who continue to carry the weight of that service every day. Behind every uniform is a child, a partner, a parent and they serve in their own way too.

So as we pause to honour the courage and sacrifice of our service personnel this ANZAC Day, Resolute Ready continues to shine the light on the impact of service in the lives of veterans and their families. That is why it has launched the Digital Education Backpack, a free, world-first online resource offering tailored mental health and learning resources for children of veterans and first responders.

Developed in partnership with The Insight Centre and funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Backpack equips parents, carers, and educators with practical tools to better understand trauma and foster resilience children need at home and in the classroom.

This is powerfully reflected in the words of Warrant Officer Ken Robertson, OAM, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Defence Force and Resolute Ready Ambassador, who spoke at the official launch of the Backpack earlier this month at the Anzac Memorial, alongside other national advocates.  “The impact of service life isn’t confined to the battlefield. It’s in every missed birthday, every relocation, every goodbye. Resolute Ready is more than resources, it gives families tools to heal and thrive,” he said.

Lidia Faranda-Hall, Founder and Managing Director of Resolute Ready, said the Backpack directly responds to key findings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

“The trauma of service doesn’t end with discharge, it echoes through families, classrooms and homes. The Digital Education Backpack is an extension of the Resolute Ready Hub and directly addresses recommendations around early intervention and continuity of care for families and children,” she said.

“It recognises that connection is intervention. It helps parents, grandparents, carers, guardians, and educators understand trauma responses, support resilience, and provide stability for the children of service personnel.”

At Primary Comms Group, we’re proud to support the incredible team behind Resolute Ready including sponsors and supporters, and our friends at Mercy Me Marketing, in launching this much-needed national initiative. Hats off to the visionaries, advocates, and researchers who made the Digital Education Backpack a reality.

Behind every veteran is a family — and they serve too. Explore the Digital Education Backpack: https://resoluteready.com/backpack

*Photos from the official launch of The Digital Backpack in April 2025, courtesy of Resolute Ready

Primary Comms Group was proud to power up Business Sydney’s big night at Chifley Square, as the official sponsor for the launch of Decide 25: The Policy Makers.

With the May 3 election on the horizon, Assistant Minister for Immigration, the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, and Senator Dave Sharma took the stage to tackle the big questions shaping Australia’s future.

Primary CEO Chris Hall, introduced by Business Sydney’s Paul Nicolaou, kicked things off with a quick outline of our organisation and the work of the 20-strong team before handing over to the evening’s headline speakers.

Daily Telegraph national political editor Clare Armstrong kept the energy high as the audience put the pollies through their paces before opening up the floor for questions from our guests.

Massive thanks to everyone who came along – and to our partners at Business Sydney for pulling together a top-tier event.

Round two will take place on Thursday, 1 May: Decide 25: The Political Shakers will feature The Hon. Graham Richardson AO, political commentator Sky News and The Australian, Michael Photios, Chairman of PremierState & PremierNational, Bruce Hawker, Special Counsel at Fitzpatrick & Co Advisory and Catherine Douglas, Managing Director at CT Group Australia.

Head to Business Sydney to find out more about this event.

Today the Daily Telegraph launched its We’re For ANZAC Day campaign, which spotlights the work of Primary Comms Group client, The Australian Remembrance Foundation and the moving Lest We Forget: Harbour Sunset Tribute on the eve of ANZAC Day to be held for the first time on the Opera House forecourt from 4.30pm-6pm on April 24.

The concert will feature renowned Australian performers, to be announced shortly. The Daily Telegraph reporter Peter Jenkins sat down with General Sir Peter Cosgrove to discuss the upcoming event and the importance of pausing to remember those who have served the country and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Tickets for the tribute are still available here: Home | Lest We Forget

It was 2003 when Howard era Minister, Amanda Vanstone, dropped an infamous clanger in a media interview about a Budget tax cut.

“Five dollars. Hell, what will it buy them? A sandwich and a milkshake if you are lucky. Not much,” the South Australian senator thundered – much to the consternation of her Cabinet colleagues because it was a Liberal-National Budget.

In 2016, Labor’s Bill Shorten was livid that tax cuts handed down by Malcom Turnbull’s Government only averaged just $6 a week for people earning $80,000 a year.

“That’s not much. I’m not going to insult the intelligence of people and say that’s a reason to go out and buy a Tatts ticket. But we will back that particular change in, because we are on the side of people at work every day,” said the man now earning $860,000 a year as the head of a Canberra University.

Fast forward to 2025 and the Albanese Government is handing out tax cuts of…$5 a week. Is that enough to buy a cup of coffee?

Not in the once down-at-heel but now gentrified Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, where Primary is based. You’ll pay up to six bucks, with the notable exception of The Balkan Butler in Foveaux Street where a regular cup comes in at $4.80.

There’s no way you’ll buy a milkshake. At the salubrious Keg and Brew Hotel, a fiver won’t get you a whiff of the froth on top of a schooner of Resch’s.

Bill Shorten backed in the 2016 cuts despite saying they were designed for millionaires. That’s the kind of thing that politicians do. This time around, the Coalition is Just Saying No. At the time of writing, the Government is forcing the Opposition’s hand by trying to make the cuts law before it calls an election.

Reality is that whatever goes down at Parliament House over the rest of this week will go largely unnoticed by the people whose hearts, minds and votes all sides of politics so desperately want to win.

Craig Regan, Senior Account Director, Primary Communication