Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects at the Eaglehawk dawn service on Saturday.
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Bendigo District RSL secretary Paul Penno, who led the commemoration, said it was the biggest crowd he'd ever seen at Eaglehawk.
"We normally get about 300 and I'd say at the moment we've got 500 to 600 people here," he said.
"It's really encouraging to see that we still remember."
Mr Penno said the ceremony reminded people of the values Australian society holds dear.
"It's a subtle thing, I don't think people are aware just how much it impacts on the way we think and act," he said.
Vietnam veteran Graham Flanders said seeing the size of the crowd "warms the cockles of the heart".
"It's been getting bigger and bigger each year as more people become aware and it’s a lot better than what it was 20 years ago when at this time of the morning there might have been 20 or 30 people here," he said.
Among the crowd was Bev Hanson, whose great-uncle was killed at Gallipoli, and her granddaughter Bridee.
"One day Bridee will have children and I think it's important that they know that her great-great-uncle gave his life for our country," she said.
"When we're gone it needs to be passed on to future generations."
Also there was Aylene Kirkwood who said the centenary made no difference to her decision to attend the service.
"I've always come to the Eaglehawk 6am service and whether it was 100 years or not I would still be here, it's very important for me as a person," she said.
Click here to see pictures from the dawn services at Eaglehawk and Bendigo.
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