RECORD crowds encouraged by great weather and the nearing centenary of the Gallipoli landings honoured the 60 or so diggers marching through Dubbo’s central business district to the cenotaph in Victoria Park.
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A number of the war veterans arrived in style in their vintage cars, waving to a packed Victoria Park as they made their way along the garden path to their destination.
They were followed by hundreds of Dubbo residents, who marched with pride on one of the most popular days of the year.
Anzac Day is a day to remember those fallen in battle in many of the world’s conflicts.
World War I, a monumental event, began almost 100 years ago and to this day Australians still come together in commemoration.
Students and emergency service personnel also congregated around the cenotaph, with many of the schools having to sit down on the grass area around the monument because the area was so full.
Dubbo RSL sub-branch president Tom Gray led the delegation of soldiers before they came to a halt in front of the cenotaph.
Mr Gray presented the service’s special guest, Royal Australian Navy border protection commander Admiral David Johnston, who enlightened the crowd with the history of our nation.
“We remember them (the fallen soldiers) not necessarily for what they achieved, or if they were victories or defeats,” Admiral Johnston said.
“Rather we remember them for the quality of the human endeavour. The extraordinary deeds performed by ordinary men and women, for the examples and the legends that inspire us still today.”
He said the soldiers were transported across oceans and delivered in darkness, to a land they barely knew, and advanced steadily onward towards gunfire and impossible terrain.
“The courageous efforts of the Anzacs are echoed in the selfless efforts of the generations of defence personnel.
“We remember and honour those who served and those who died...courage, mate-ship, service and sacrifice - these characteristics do not change.
“The first Anzacs showed what Australians can do in the most desperate of circumstances... (the) prosperity of Australians, the extraordinary deeds by ordinary Australians, the qualities of these endeavours - they are the things we remember on Anzac Day,” he said.
Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson, together with RSL Club patron John Whittle OAM, laid the wreath on another Anzac Day.
During a spine-tingling performance of the Last Post, Mr Whittle could not help but shed a tear as thousands of people hung their heads in silence.
Mr Gray said it was hard to say how many people attended both the dawn and 11am Anzac Day service yesterday.
“There was about 3000 at the dawn service and it could’ve been close to 5000 at the second service,” he said.
“I’ve never seen that many schoolkids at an Anzac service before.
“We even had to put some of the kids on the inter-circle of grass around the cenotaph and that has never been done before.”
He said schools were learning more and more about the different aspects of the war and what the Australian men and women have done for this country.
“It was great for the community of Dubbo to listen to somebody like David,” he said.
“We’re trying to get a senior air force person next year and we’re also looking at getting a really senior Army officer for the 100th anniversary of the first World War.”
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