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LARGE numbers of residents and visitors paid their respects at Kangaroo Flat's Anzac Day centenary dawn and morning services today.
Kangaroo Flat RSL secretary Craig Chilver estimated about 800 people attended the dawn service and more at the morning service.
A cheery morning, briefly free of grey rain clouds, greeted those who assembled to take part or watch the morning Anzac Day march, which began at St Monica's Church on Station Street about 9.15am.
Veterans and supporters in the march, led by the Marist Brothers Band, then wound their way down High Street to the Soldiers' Memorial to applause from onlookers who sporadically lined the street.
Kangaroo Flat RSL club president Charlie Martin opened the ceremony at the memorial by thanking people for turning out in such numbers, with saw people spilling out onto High Street.
"It's the largest crowd ever," he said.
Guest speaker RAAF Squadron leader Bill Myatt began the Anzac Day address by thanking people for their presence and keeping the memory, bravery and sacrifice of the Anzacs alive.
He addressed part of his speech to the younger men and women in the audience, and spoke about the difference between celebration and commemoration.
"If you can imagine your father went away to the other side of the world to fight a war and didn't come home, and then your brother went and didn't come home, and then your sister, your football coach, your netball coach, your cousins, your best friends all went away and didn't return," he said,
"That's what happened 100 years ago, and the people were so sad they built statues like this one in Bendigo and towns all around Australia and all over the world.
"So we come together on Anzac Day to commemorate those who never returned."
He also used his speech to reflect on two recent Anzac Days he spent in Kabul, Afghanistan.
"My personal hope is that 100 years from now Anzac Day commemorations will reflect its involvement in Afghanistan as successful in the eyes of Afghans as well as both of our home nations," he said.
Kangaroo Flat RSL president Charlie Martin had the honour of laying the first wreath as part of the wreath laying ceremony conducted towards the end of the service.
Vietnam veteran and RSL committee member Robert Bail, who walked as part of the Kangaroo Flat march, said he was wearing his mother's and his grandfather's medals.
"It's at these times I remember them," he said.
"My grandfather was machine gunned across the legs in the first world war and never walked again properly."
"Being machined gunned, you've got to face fire, and to face fire you've got to be very brave.
"I'm Vietnam, but they were far braver than I could ever be."
He said the 100th centenary of Anzac Day was important to regional communities and to veterans such as himself.
"The fact it's the centenary, and in a country town like Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat, means so many families are involved," he said.
"It's more important for me than maybe a lot of people because of the way we Vietnam vets were treated.
"To now be totally accepted is just beyond belief."