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Posted: 2024-03-29 02:07:14

Locals have gathered across the country to mark Good Friday this Easter long weekend.

From special church services, to family days out in the sun, and seafood-rich dishes — here's how you're spending the public holiday. 

'Blessed' churchgoers gather in Brisbane

In Brisbane, dozens of churchgoers at EFKS Southwest Brisbane dressed in white and gathered at the Samoan Church to celebrate Good Friday.

In Samoan culture, traditionally, white is worn during the Easter period.

"For us, white represents a new life in our culture; it's such a significant day, so we wear white clothes," churchgoer Vao said.

A collage of pictures from inside a church, including attendees holding bibles and singing.

Churchgoers in Brisbane were dressed in white to mark Good Friday.(ABC News: Lucas Hill)

The Queensland service consisted of hymns, singing and prayer.

Rosie Alaalatoa, who attended the service, said it was a "blessing" to embrace culture and language.

"It's a special day for all of us in the Samoan community; we come together and worship, and we're able to see each other," she said.

"This is a beautiful day for the islanders."

Two women dressed in white smiling.

Vao and Ipi say celebrating with their community and in language means a lot to them.(ABC News: Lucas Hill)

Anglican Church Southern Queensland Archbishop Jeremy Greaves said in his Good Friday message, "no matter how desperate things seem, it does get better".

"Love will endure. Hope will win out," he said.

Archbishop Greaves said he hoped people could use the Easter break to find strength, hope and courage to "sing alleluia" in the face of "the darkness of the world".

Calls for harmony in Sydney

At the St Patrick's Cathedral in Western Sydney, hundreds gathered to pray through the Stations of the Cross, marking the different phases of Jesus's life and death.

A collage of people at church including the bishop, a girl praying, and people reading programs.

Churchgoers at the Parramatta Good Friday service.(ABC News: Sean Tarek Goodwin)

Bishop Vincent Long led the procession.

He began with an Easter message calling for harmony in the Israel-Gaza war, which has been front-of-mind for many in the local community.

Pilgrimage across Melbourne

Melbourne Christians also marked Good Friday, by participated in the annual Way of the Cross walk.

Hundreds began the walk at one of Melbourne's oldest churches, St Francis on Lonsdale Street, and concluded at St Paul's Cathedral on Flinders Street.

People gather outside of a church.

The annual Way of the Cross walk marked Good Friday in Melbourne.(ABC News: Kate Ashton)

The walk takes Christians of different denominations on a journey through Melbourne's city centre, stopping at many of the city's historic churches to share reflections, songs, and prayers.

The annual pilgrimage has been running since 1998.

It passes from church to church, commemorating Jesus's journey from the Last Supper to the crucifixion and resurrection.

Followers were invited to continue the walk when it resumed early on Easter Sunday.

Easter egg hunt in Hobart

Meanwhile, Tasmanians marked Good Friday with an Easter egg hunt for the kids.

A girl with Easter bunny face paint.

Some children enjoyed the annual egg hunt while dressed in face paint.(ABC News: Jordan Young)

Around 2,000 children and their parents took part in the annual egg hunt and family picnic at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens.

Clues to find a special chocolate Easter egg surprise were hidden throughout the gardens.

It is the 12th year the event has been hosted, which raises funds for medical research across Tasmania.

A collage of a girl with an egg hunt map, Easter eggs, and a family wearing bunny ears.

The egg hunt and family picnic drew a crowd in Hobart.(ABC News: Jordan Young)

Seafood spreads in Perth

Over in Western Australia, many are eagerly lining up at the fish markets to score a fresh catch for their Good Friday feast. 

Richard Karagania's religious background means it's important to him and his wife — who is Catholic — to avoid red meat on Good Friday, so he was at the fish market bright and early on Friday.

Mr Karagania is holding a packet of fish, standing in a fish market.

Mr Karagania is holding the juicy, extra-large prawns he will use to make seafood stew this Good Friday.(ABC News: Rebecca Trigger)

"It's all very nice, a tomatoey fish stew," he said of the fish fillet and extra-large prawns he was picking up.

"But also it's a nice time of the year to sit outside and have a seafood meal."

Third-generation fishmonger Matt Kailis said the most important thing is to look for this Good Friday is local produce.

Matt holds up a large pink fish in the market

Matthew Kailis from Kailis Bros fishmarket, one of Western Australias's biggest fish retailers, is a third-generation fishmonger.(ABC News: Rebecca Trigger)

"We've got all variety of fish to suit basically any budget and any cooking style," he said.

"Traditionally people might have just bought their snapper, but they're trying a lot of different species of fish, they're more adventurous in their cooking."

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