An “unbelievable” crowd, estimated at more than 5000 people, attended yesterday’s commemoration, following the path of more than 2000 people who attended the dawn service hours earlier.

Men, women and children cheered during the march and reflected silently at the service before a bugler sounded the Last Post.

They sung hymns heard again and again a century ago from freshly-printed orders of services.

And with their presence together they contributed a chapter to the Australian story of Anzac, begun 99 years ago yesterday on the shores of Gallipoli.

On a sunny day that answered the prayers of the Returned Services League (RSL) Dubbo Sub-branch, diggers with shiny medals gathered to march once more.

On foot or in classic cars they received applause from those who lined the streets.

While the warriors made their progress through the centre of the city, followed by emergency service representatives and school groups, people gathered at the Cenotaph in Victoria Park.

Like five-month-old Bridget Leary, the great-granddaughter of Second World War air gunner Laurence Bourke, many were the descendents of veterans.

The ceremony opened with the exhibition of the Book of Remembrance, which records the name of all who enlisted at Dubbo and died in service of their country, before the focus shifted to the message from a Dubbo born and bred member of the Royal Australian Air Force. 

Wing Commander Robert Graham said returning to his hometown to give the address made Anzac Day “very personal”.

From watching the parade “from my grandfather’s verandah in Wingewarra Street in the 1970s”, his awareness of Dubbo’s “proud history and long association with the armed forces” had grown during his years in the air force. 

He shared some of his own reflections on a day that “belongs to the Australian and New Zealand people”, not just their armies.

“Courage, sacrifice and love of country never recede out of fashion,” he said.

He said Anzac Day had enduring appeal because it sat “comfortably with the fundamental cultural identity of the people”. 

“Our cherished self-image of the people is that we believe in a fair go,” he said.

“We aspire to peace and we aspire to the good life.

“But we will fight if we are pushed and we do not like to see the little guy or the under dog getting bullied.”

He said it had become clear to him that the first Anzacs were “acutely aware of their British identify”.

“The struggle of the British Empire against Prussian militarism was not someone else’s war to those original Anzacs,” he said.

“It would have been unthinkable for Australians and New Zealanders to sit idly by while the fate of their motherland was decided in Europe.

“That has always been the Australian way - we never have and never will shirk our responsibility when the global order is threatened.”

He said the qualities demonstrated by the original Anzacs and perpetuated were more than military-related.

“These qualities are Australian values, because after all, our men and women in uniform are drawn from the Australian community and reflect what the Australian community holds to be true and good,” he said.

Seaman James Neville, 20, who grew up in Dubbo had his first Anzac Day march since he joined the Royal Australian Navy about nine months ago. 

He marched beside his brother, Able Seaman Luke Neville, and friend, Able Seaman Samuel Hughes.

Louise and Kevin Hughes were there to see their sailor son carrying the flag.

“It’s a very big honour to come home and do this,” Mrs Hughes said.

RSL Dubbo Sub-branch president Tom Gray thanked the crowd, saying it was unbelievable.

“It’s good to see for Dubbo that people are thinking of Anzac Day and the freedom they’ve got and it was done by sacrifice by a lot of people,” he told the Daily Liberal.

The former sailor welcomed the inclusion of current serving defence personnel in the commemoration. 

“It’s good to see these young men and women coming home to march on Anzac Day and I’m hoping I can get a lot more involved next year for the centenary of Gallipoli,” Mr Gray said.