Camaraderie, a bugle, and a history lesson.
The pomp of federal parliament for 2014 got under way on Monday with a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten stood abreast in a display of bipartisanship before they and their parliamentary colleagues were reminded of the sacrifices made to guarantee Australia's "political, religious and economic freedom".
Almost a century ago Victorian teenage soldier Colin Barr died in a British military hospital after being injured on the World War One Western Front.
His tragic story was the focus of Monday's event.
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The ceremony is a valuable addition to the parliamentary calendar, Labor MP Graham Perrett said.
"This puts all the other crap we deal with in context," he told AAP as he found a relative's name on the honour role.
"It is a good thing to remind us all why we come to Canberra and why our democracy is so important.
"These young people fought for what they believed in and allowed us the freedoms we enjoy today."
Parliament resumes on Tuesday.
