Anzac Day commemorations saw tens of thousands of people gather at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. As always, the dawn service offered sombre reflection. But this year's veterans march had a more jubilant feel as it marked the first on the memorial's new parade ground.
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00:00Haunting sounds signal the start of a day for reflection.
00:0732,000 people gathered before dawn at the Australian War Memorial,
00:14marking 109 years since the first Anzacs landed at Gallipoli.
00:20As we remember the Anzacs of 1915,
00:23we also remember all of those who have followed in their footsteps.
00:30Wreaths were laid, prayers were offered
00:33before the incoming Chief of Defence delivered their commemorative address.
00:38I ask you all to hold in your hearts those who mourn on Anzac Day
00:46and remember those whose service left them wounded in body, mind or spirit.
00:53Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
00:58at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.
01:19Then Indigenous Australians who have served in the armed forces were honoured.
01:24We all come here to remember and to honour the first warriors
01:29who have been protecting this land for tens of thousands of years,
01:34but also those who were the first peacemakers.
01:38With the sun now shining, it was time for the Veterans March,
01:44reviewed for the last time by the outgoing Governor-General.
01:49I march on behalf of my dad.
01:51He was a Nacho in Vietnam and he died about 20 years ago,
01:56but marching was really important to him to commemorate.
01:59It says a belonging, I guess. I've been in the Navy my whole life,
02:02so I like to come and hopefully bump into some people I know,
02:05but also take some time to remember those 103,000 people
02:09who gave their lives for Australia.
02:11More than 1,600 people took to the memorial's new parade ground.
02:16It was a promise I made months ago that we'd be ready for Anzac Day
02:19and the only way I wanted this parade ground to be commissioned
02:22was by veterans marching on it on this day.
02:25That's the only way you could do it.
02:27The crowd of thousands leaving no doubt that the Anzac spirit lives on.
02:32I think it's really important that we come here and pay our respects.
02:36There is a certain level of emotion to it, but for me it was just amazing
02:39to see the sheer number of people that still come out and were here this morning.
02:43It's a really, really opportune time to remember
02:46just how important this is for so many people.
02:49Lest we forget.