FROM Darwin to Alice Springs, thousands of Territorians gathered before sunrise on Wednesday – 103 years after Australian troops landed at Gallipoli.
In Darwin, there was a buzz as people walked to the Cenotaph, with military tunes from the Australian Army Band adding to the aura.
As the drums died and the veterans arrived, the crowd was silent in memory of the fallen soldiers.
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READ NOWGuest speaker and 1st Brigade commander Matthew Pearse AM spoke of all soldiers who now rest in graves across the world.
“For almost a century now Australians have gathered at dawn on the 25th of April to pay our respects to the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country,” he said.
“With the passage of years, the loss of family members has not faded, but mellowed from sharp pain to enduring sadness — that is the nature of grief and bereavement.”
One of his Comrades from the 1st Brigade Kris Gardner echoed the commanders thoughts, but for him the sadness is still immediate and real.
“I was there when we lost Cameron Baird BC, and it’s a pretty profound thing to turn around and see an entire task force ... come out and pay respects of someone of that calibre, so I think about him and I think about the forty other guys too that we lost in Afghanistan,” he said.
“For the guys overseas to be on active duty and actually doing the job they’re trained for, it’s an important thing, it’s a major thing in their lives, and to have an Anzac Day while you’re on operations, it brings it all home, it’s one of those things that you never forget.”
For past soldiers, much of Anzac Day is about reflection of their mates, who came with them to war and returned, and of those who were left behind.
Vietnam veteran John Anictomatis moved to Australia 63 years ago from Greece, and said it was “an honour to fight for your adopted country”.
“It’s always the build up to the day, you’re constantly thinking of the mates that are either lost or injured, and the ones that have returned, you are thinking of their welfare and if they are coping well on their return — it’s always an emotional time,” he said.
“The day is about catching up with friends that I’ve served with, catching up with the president of the RSL — I went to school with him, served with him in the forces, and work with him now at the RSL.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of Palmerston residents gathered in the city centre to pay their respects for past and present soldiers.
The 8/12 Royal Australian Artillery Regiment led the march with the 1st Combat Engineering Regiment, 8th Close Health Company and the Marine Rotational Force Darwin following behind.
Jim Wright attended and marched with his grandson Joseph Wright.
It was Joseph’s first time wearing his grandad’s miniature medals.
Mr Wright proudly wore his, his father’s and grandad’s medals at today’s service.
Dozens of dignitaries also presented books instead of laying wreaths.
They will be donated to schools to help educate the next generation about the Anzacs.
WHAT’S ON TODAY
DARWIN
5.50am Veterans march from Darwin RSL to the Darwin Cenotaph
6am Dawn service begins
7.30am Mass for the fallen, St Mary’s Star of the Sea War Memorial Cathedral
9am Parade commences on the Esplanade, finishes at the Civic Centre
PALMERSTON
4.30am Gunners breakfast at Palmerston Sports Club
6am Dawn service begins at Memorial Park
7am Breakfast at Palmerston Sports Club
8.30am Veterans march through the city
9.30am Service at memorial park
ADELAIDE RIVER
5.30am Dawn service begins at Adelaide River war cemetery
HUMPTY DOO
9am March begins at Taminmin College
9.15am Memorial service begins at the village green
KATHERINE
6am Dawn service begins at Cenotaph on O’Shea Tce
ALICE SPRINGS
6am Dawn service begins at Anzac Hill
7am Reunion breakfast
9.45am Anzac march begins in front of Alice Springs town council on Todd St
10.30am Service begins at Anzac Hill
11.30am Reunion at the Golf Club