All Australians are being urged to pause and remember today, 80 years after the beginning of World War II.

On September 3, 1939, the nation stopped as Prime Minister Robert Menzies made the declaration.

It was at 9.15pm on a Sunday night when these words were broadcast across every radio station in the country.

“Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that, in consequence of the persistence of Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.

No harder task can fall to the lot of a democratic leader than to make such an announcement.

Great Britain and France, with the cooperation of the British Dominions, have struggled to avoid this tragedy. They have, as I firmly believe, been patient; they have kept the door of negotiation open; they have given no cause for aggression.

But in the result their efforts have failed and we are, therefore, as a great family of nations, involved in a struggle which we must at all costs win, and which we believe in our hearts we will win.”

On this sombre occasion, Mark Levy has paid a special tribute to those who served, detailing the landmark events of WWII.

He went on to praise all those who have served our nation.

“It is really hard to get your head around what these men and women did some 80 years ago,” says Mark.

“It’s a level of bravery no ordinary person will experience in their lives. But these servicemen and women aren’t ordinary. They’re extraordinary.

“To all those veterans in any theatre of war, I say thank you. And to those no longer with us, lest we forget.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full tribute