Hundreds of people lined the main streets of Deloraine and Westbury for their dawn and 11am Anzac Day services.
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Digger Charles Crowden, 98, is the last surviving World War II veteran in Deloraine.
He served in Papua New Guinea and Japan.
“I remember the blokes I served with. Especially the blokes that didn’t come home,” he said.
“Anzac Day is about remembering the blokes that went away, because without them, we wouldn’t be here today.
“It makes me think of the bravery of those who were able to help everybody else and look after themselves.”
Families, school groups, veterans and ADF members marched in Deloraine before gathering at the cenotaph to remember Australia and New Zealand’s fallen servicemen and women.
Author Graeme Davis OAM addressed the congregation at the 11am service.
“There is no more meaningful piece of metal than a war medal,” he said.
Mr Davis said he was pleased to see so many younger citizens at the service.
“It’s 75 years since I left school and sadly, I’ve forgotten most of what I was taught. However, one statement of wisdom offered to me by my English master has remained and I offer it now to our students.
“Patriotism is not saying your country is the best, but endeavoring to make it so.”
Rocky the horse has attended Deloraine Anzac Day services for the past 15 years.
“He brings the World War I saddle, first aid kits,” owner Tony Dixon said.
“Anzac Day is a day of getting together in memory of what the older people did for us and what they gave up.”
Following the service, ex-servicemen and women and their families, schools and community groups, marched from the cenotaph to the RSL for lunch.
Westbury RSL sub-branch president Bob Sackley served in the air force for 22 years.
“The RSL is important because we focus on the welfare of members and vets, and our whole emphasis is on welfare – not only financially, but their wellbeing,” he said.
“Anzac Day is pretty special and what we’ve done in Westbury in the last few years is we’ve decided to focus on local identities.
“Every year now we take a couple of names on the local cenotaph … and we do stories on them. This year, we’ve got two cases inside of all the memorabilia that people have donated and have them on display.”