AT 5.45am this morning a crowd of about 2000 people had gathered at the Inverell RSM Club for the Anzac Day Dawn Service.
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The centenary service was always going to be something special as ex-servicemen from all fields of conflict from World War II to Afghanistan gathered marched in to take their place in front of the cenotaph.
One of those ex-servicemen was an organiser of the morning’s ceremony. Inverell RSL president Pat McMahon was very pleased with the number of people who were there to remember the fallen.
“We were very pleased with the service and amazed at the crowd,” Pat said.
“I reckon there were 2000 people here this morning, that tribute to the original ANZAC's and to all those still serving was just amazing.”
Soldiers from 12/16th Hunter River Lancers Light Horse from Armidale formed the guard of honour and their Bushmaster armoured personnel carrier attracted a lot of interest after the ceremony.
It was predicted to be fine and clear, but you never know with the weather. This year, however, the sun rose over the cenotaph and all those gathered like a beautiful warm blanket as the bugle sounded the retreat and the crowd remembered. Lest we forget.