One of the biggest crowds in recent history were on hand at the Shellharbour City Anzac Day commemorative service.
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The 500-plus people who attended on Thursday highlighted to Albion Park RSL Sub-Branch president Robyn Hanckel how important Anzac Day still was to the community.
"As you can see, the service itself is still very important," she said.
"It is a chance for us to say thank you and thank those who gave us the freedom we enjoy today. Without them we wouldn't be able to do something like this.
"Being thankful and being free is very important to me.
"It's been a wonderful day. I just love the flyovers, they are very moving."
Ms Hanckel was saddened by the recent terrorist attacks in New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
"Those unsavoury events were truly terrible and very sad. But the community's reaction makes me even prouder to be Australian," she said.
"I feel safe in this country. We are lucky to live in this great country.
"That's why we are assembled here to commemorate that immortal day, when the young men of Australia by their deeds and sacrifice demonstrated to the world at Gallipoli that Australia was truly a nation.
"On this day we remember the sacrifice of such men and women for an ideal, for a way of life."