Firstly, on behalf of a grateful nation, I thank those individuals who have signed on the dotted line to offer their lives for the protection of our country. 

To the families, who also pay the price of the dislocation and loneliness that happens when another member of their family makes a sacrifice attached to our nation's service, we thank you. 

To those families whose forbears have served and made the sacrifice, we thank you. 

Today, I am at the Australian War Memorial for the official National Service, which is an incredible honour but has taken me away from the participation of services in the New England and the Upper Hunter. 

I would sincerely like to thank all of you who attended services; your actions show that the service and sacrifice of others were not in vain and are not forgotten. 

Lest We Forget.

File photo: Barnaby Joyce laying a wreath at Muswellbrook War Memorial