Anzac Biscuit Tins – 2023 Limited Edition
To commemorate ANZAC Day, many bake, buy and share ANZAC biscuits with their friends and family. Anzac biscuits are sweet, golden and delicious, made of oats, flour, coconut, butter, sugar and golden syrup.
Each year the RSL creates special limited edition ANZAC biscuit tins with unique designs that are made available in participating Coles, Woolworths, Aldi’s and Independent Stores.
Supporters of the RSL collect the tins, and some of the profit is donated back to the RSL to fund our work supporting the well-being of veterans and their families.
This year there are five different tin designs to collect. Different designs are exclusive to different supermarkets, so here’s the scoop on where you can find them.
World War One – The Great War
Available at Coles and Woolworths
The first tin depicts images from the First World War. Australia’s involvement in the First World War lasted for the entire conflict from 1914 to 1918. More than 416,000 Australians enlisted, and more than 330,000 served overseas. Women also served as nurses in Egypt, France, Greece and India, often close to the front line. Australia suffered heavy casualties in the First World War with more than 60,000 killed and around 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner. It was during World War One that the RSL was formed in 1916. Those returning to Australia after serving needed an organisation to support them, advocate for repatriation and medical services, and provide camaraderie. This is our core mission, born out of an ethos of compassion and service, and it has never changed; we have only evolved to meet the needs of our current servicemen and women.
Sinking of the AHS Centaur
Available at Aldi
The second tin commemorates the sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship AHS Centaur on 14 May 1943. The ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland near Moreton Island. Only 64 of the 332 crew on board survived. The vessel had been appropriately lit and marked to indicate that it was a hospital ship, with red crosses on each side of the hull and the bow and the characteristic “green painted band” around the outside. Its sinking was regarded as an atrocity and a tragedy, and the Australian Government delivered an official protest to Japan over the incident. The wreck wasn’t found until December 2009. 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the AHS Centaur.
The Korean War
Available at Independent Stores
The third limited edition tin commemorates the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Australia was one of 21 countries that supported South Korea against an invasion by Communist North Korea. Almost 18,000 Australians served in the war, including 340 who lost their lives. On 27 July each year, we commemorate Korean Veterans’ Day.
The Vietnam War
Available at Coles, Woolworths and Independent Stores
The conflict in Vietnam spanned from 1955 – 1975, although Australia was only involved from 1962. Troops returned home in 1973 until in 1975 when the Royal Australian Air Force answered the call to assist with humanitarian operations, evacuating orphans, nuns and Australian citizens before the fall of Saigon. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Almost 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, including the Navy, Army and Air Force. Over 3,000 people were injured, and 521 people died in the conflict.
The War in Afghanistan
Available at Aldi
From 2001 to 2021, Australian naval, army and air forces supported operations as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Approximately 30,000 ADF personnel served, many living in small isolated patrol bases in the remote valleys of Afghanistan with the Afghan soldiers they mentored. Sadly, 41 people did not make it home.
We must also mention those who served in the War in Iraq. 2023 marks 20 years since operations commenced and we acknowledge all those who served there. Unfortunately, we ran into some manufacturing issues with this tin, and it did not get produced. We look forward to commemorating this and observing our Iraq involvement with future tin/s.
The artwork on the 2023 tins has been sourced from the Australian War Memorial and Defence Images galleries.
Thank you to everyone who purchases a limited edition ANZAC Biscuit tin this year. Your donation is helping us to continue supporting veterans.
Plan your Anzac Day
We invite you to commemorate ANZAC Day with us on Tuesday, 25 April. Dawn Services and Marches will take place across Australia.
