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PEOPLE of all ages gathered throughout Saturday, as Dubbo commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.
Thousands lined the streets as the Anzac march moved proudly from the RSL club, taking in Macquarie and Talbragar streets before converging on the Cenotaph in Victoria Park.
Returned servicemen marched alongside children from schools across the district, and were also joined by members representing the city's service organisations, including the State Emergency Service and the Rural Fire Service.
Dubbo's Air Force and Army cadets also took part in the march, and Flying Officer Paul Mastronardi said it was an honour to be a part of the 100 year commemorations of Anzac Day.
Vi Palm, who served in World War II decoding messages and ciphers in Townsville, had participated in the march every year and said 2015 is the biggest she but ever seen.
"I've never seen so many people in Dubbo," Mrs Palm said.
"I didn't know Dubbo held so many people, up the main street, Macquarie Street and Talbragar Street were just packed. I've never seen anything like it."
A moving address was delivered by Brigadier Kathryn Campbell CSC, Commander 5th Brigade, who spoke of the profound impact the war had on the city of Dubbo.
"The town of Dubbo, so far from Europe and the Middle East, was nonetheless profoundly affected by the First World War, as all Australian communities of that time were," Brigadier Campbell said.
"Seven hundred and seventy-four of the first Australian Imperial Force listed Dubbo as their place of birth at enlistment, 554 soldiers listed their home address as being the town of Dubbo."
Dubbo was the place where the men from surrounding towns and districts came to enlist, 2054 of them in total."
"From here they traveled via Egypt to the battlefields of France, Belgium, Palestine and of course Gallipoli."
"256 of those Dubbo soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice. 256 men from a town back then of a population of only 5,000. There wouldn't have been a single family in Dubbo that was not profoundly affected in some way by their loss."
Brigadier Campbell also highlighted the ongoing impact of the war on the town, in the "suffering endured by many survivors, who bore the physical and mental scars of their service".
She made special mention of Corporal James Arthur Harding, who was the first Dubbo man to lose his life in the First World War, and Lance-Corporal Jason Marks, who perished in Afghanistan in 2008, and the values of mate ship, loyalty and courage that they both embodied.
She called on the community to feel inspired by the example set by our Aussie diggers.
"These values, these ethics of service are not just the preserve of the Anzacs of old or of the Australian Defence Force today," Brigadier Campbell said.
"They belong to all of us."
"Every single one of us has the opportunity to embody these values and these ethics in the way we relate to one another and on a day to day basis, as we seek to live together within our communities."
"They inhabit the State Emergency Service, the Rural Fire fighter, the meals on wheels driver, the local football coach, the P and C volunteer."
"Anyone who is prepared to step up and apply their time, their gifts, their talents and their experience to serve others, with no thought of personal gain other than the satisfaction of knowing that they have made a positive impact on someone else's life."
"So remember Corporal James Harding and remember Lance-Corporal Jason Marks and honour their sacrifice and their memory by applying these values in everyday of our lives, whoever we are and whatever we are doing."
Dubbo City Mayor Mathew Dickerson was in attendance at the ceremony. Parkes MP Mark Coulton sent his apologies, while Dubbo MP Troy Grant attended the dawn service, but was represented at the main service by his wife Toni.