Young and old, marched side-by-side through the streets of Wollongong to mark 100 years of Anzac on Saturday.
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Under a bright blue sky and glorious sunshine, thousands of people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the commemoration as it snaked its way through the CBD.
The procession stretched for kilometres, but hands came together in applause and even high-fives, and little Australian flags waved for the duration.
As the city stopped to reflect, veterans of various conflicts were joined by family members marching on behalf of those no longer with us.
Most had war medals proudly positioned on their chest, including a young girl who held onto the hand of a relative as they marched in unison, while others held framed photos.
The support from the roadside was hard to miss - ‘‘on ya Digger’’, one man yelled as the procession moved along the eastern end of Burelli Street.
While many people grabbed a vantage point on the kerb, those living along the street chose rooftops and balconies for a birds-eye view of the march and the ceremony that followed at WIN Stadium.
Children from various groups - including cubs, scouts and rovers - showed the Anzac legacy will live on for many years to come as they brought up the rear of the march.
First Austinmer Rover crew member Nicola Hubbard, 19, was among them.
‘‘It’s really nice to see the different generations ... celebrating our history,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s a big day for all of us, as part of the Scout movement.’’
‘‘You grow up doing this kind of thing,’’ fellow crew member Lauren Bowie, 19, said of the march.
Michael West and his family from Albion Park Rail travelled to Wollongong for the march, after earlier paying tribute at the Albion Park dawn service.
‘‘I love coming out here every year, it’s great to support the ex-servicemen,’’ Mr West said.
‘‘I’m a proud Australian on days like today.’’
The significance of the day and the commemorations weren’t lost on 10-year-old Ebony West.
‘‘It was an amazing sight to see,’’ she said.
Many echoed the sentiment.
‘‘It was a brilliant march,’’ Anne Pembridge, from Figtree, said.
‘‘It’s lovely to see all the community come out.’’
As the march arrived at WIN Stadium, a veteran waved an Australian flag from the passenger seat of a blue police car.
The proud smile on his face was indicative of the feeling many of us experience on April 25.
Celebration continues following Anzac Day march
There was no doubting the Illawarra’s Anzac spirit on Saturday, as thousands of people who had lined the city streets filed in to Win Stadium to commemorate the centenary.
Silk poppies, rosemary sprigs and Australian flags adorned spectators as army choppers and bomber planes added to the spectacle.
Welcoming the crowd, Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the Illawarra had transformed from the small collection of towns and villages it was in 1915, into the free and abundant city is is today thanks to the great price paid by soldiers from Gallipoli onwards.
Delivering a traditional welcome to country, Illawarra Aboriginal leader Sharralyn Robinson proved how all pervasive the Anzac legend is by marking two of her family members who fought at Gallipoli.
‘‘Today we remember, today I pay respect to both my husband’s grandfather and my grandfather, as they both fought the battle at Gallipoli,’’ she said.
The crowd - estimated at 7000 - was entertained by several military bands, a combined schools choir and Wongawilli bush band playing war time and Australiana music, a program which was modelled on the very first Anzac Day service.
‘‘I had a major part to play in the activities and sequence of this morning, and I based them on the exact activities which took place in Egypt in 1916 when the survivors of Gallipoli commemorated the year before, Anzac Day,’’ Major General Brian (Hori) Howard, who delivered the centenary address at the service, said.
‘‘They were entertained my military bands, followed by Australian music and song, followed again by a solemn commemorative service.’’
He noted the 62,000 names of World War I veterans at the Australian War Memorial, but also paid tribute to all men and women who have served since.
‘‘There are almost 3000 service men and women in harms way today, as you and I enjoy the peace and freedom their efforts have won for us and others,’’ Major General Howard said.