A personal tribute
Visitors are invited to cast a commemorative star, bearing the name of an Australian serviceman or servicewoman who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country, into the Well of Contemplation. Gold coloured commemorative stars are available at no charge from the reception desk in the exhibition area.
Stars can be released into the Well of Contemplation from the viewing area in the Hall of Memory any time the Memorial is open.
You are welcome to write a specific name on the back of your star or to release one that has been pre-printed with the details of an Australian serviceman or servicewoman. If you would like to write on your star the name of an Australian serviceman or servicewoman with whom you have some connection, staff will be glad to assist you in finding relevant service details if necessary.
Stars released into the Well are collected regularly. The collected stars are cremated and the ashes of the stars carried on pilgrimages undertaken by history students to the battlefields on which Australians have fallen. The students scatter the ashes on battlefields and in Commonwealth war graves around the world. To date history students from New South Wales have scattered the ashes of commemoratives stars on battlefields like Long Tan in Vietnam, Kapyong in South Korea, Russell's Top on Gallipoli, Bullecourt in France and the Ypres Salient in Belgium. They have also been dusted over the headstones at Commonwealth War Cemeteries like Phaleron in Greece, Suda Bay on Crete, Kranji in Singapore, and half a dozen others. These simple star ceremonies help us keep the promise we made a century ago - that we will remember them.