Australians marked Good Friday across the country through a variety of traditions, including religious services, seafood-focused meals, sporting events, and community activities. The day, which is a public holiday, commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and is the first day of the Paskal Triduum.
Religious Observances
Religious services and processions were held nationwide, with messages delivered across various locations focusing on themes of hope, renewal, divine light, kindness, and compassion.
- Brisbane: The Cathedral of St Stephen hosted a Stations of the Cross Procession. Archbishop Shane Mackinlay encouraged kindness during his sermon.
- Sydney: Hundreds of people attended services at locations including St Patrick's Cathedral in Parramatta, St Andrew's Anglican Church in Cronulla, and St Mary's Cathedral in the CBD.
- Melbourne: A two-hour Stations of the Cross procession, organized by inner-city churches, moved through the streets. It began at St Francis' Church and concluded at St Paul's Cathedral, incorporating stops at 14 sculptures depicting events from the Last Supper to Jesus's death and resurrection.
- Darwin: Approximately 200 individuals gathered at St Mary's Cathedral, with some completing a 25-kilometer pilgrimage from Palmerston. Bishop Charles Gauci noted the trek reflected global and local hardships, including recent severe flooding in the Northern Territory, and affirmed the Catholic Church's support for flood survivors.
- Perth: St Mary's Cathedral reached capacity for its Stations of the Cross service, which included a reenactment of Jesus's passion and death.
- Adelaide: Worshippers attended services at Blackwood Hills Baptist Church, where Pastor Brandon Chaplin discussed compassion amidst current challenges. Catholic Archbishop Patrick O'Regan also addressed gatherings at The Monastery at Urrbrae, speaking of hope and light in times of anxiety.
Across Australia, religious services and processions delivered messages of hope, renewal, divine light, kindness, and compassion, reflecting on both spiritual teachings and contemporary challenges.
Seafood Traditions
The Sydney Fish Market experienced high traffic as many Australians observed the tradition of consuming seafood on Good Friday. Queues formed from 5 AM, with an estimated 60,000 visitors expected throughout the long weekend.
Approximately 650 tonnes of seafood, including lobsters, prawns, and barramundi, were anticipated to be sold. The market operated from its new site, which opened two months prior.
Carmelo Lombardo from Get Fish reported ordering double the usual amount of seafood for the day to meet the significant demand.
Sporting Event: Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race
The 78th annual Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race commenced in south-east Queensland. Twenty-nine boats began the 308 nautical mile (570-kilometer) journey from Shorncliffe, north of Brisbane.
The race started under rainy conditions, with favorable weather forecasted to allow all boats to arrive in Gladstone by Sunday evening. This event is recognized as the second-oldest yacht race in Australia, having started in 1949.
The fleet included the 122-year-old yacht Maritimo Katwinchar, underscoring the race's rich historical significance, as noted by David Hamilton, commodore of the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club.
Community Fundraising Event: Tasmanian Easter Egg Hunt
Hobart, Tasmania, hosted its 14th annual Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation Easter Egg Hunt. The event took place in Kingston and attracted around 2,500 participants.
Participants solved 12 clues to collect bags of chocolate eggs. Volunteers packed 760 kilograms of chocolate eggs for the event, equating to 1,200 bags.
The initiative aimed to raise over $60,000 for children's medical research and hospital equipment at the Royal Hobart Hospital.