AN estimated crowd of 10,000 people packed into Anzac Park at Greenwell Point to commemorate the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There was standing room only as the commemoration spilled into neighbouring backyards so those who wanted to pay their respect could attend the dawn service.
Nowra RSL secretary Rick Meehan said it was the biggest ceremony he had seen in his 10 years at the Greenwell Point dawn service.
“This was huge. We estimate there had to be 10,000 people here,” he said.
“We even had people standing in adjoining backyards.
“It was brilliant to see.”
At one stage traffic was banked back for around five kilometres to Mayfield Road at Brundee as people tried to make their way to the seaside village.
The commemorations started with the solemn march along Greenwell Point Road, the tinkling of medals in the darkness was all you could hear.
As the march approached Anzac Park there was spasmodic applause which intensified as the many veterans and serving military personnel finally made their way into venue.
Mother Nature did her bit with a beautiful balmy morning, and later a stunning sunrise over Orient Point just as a moving last post and reveille was played.
Commanding officer of the Army Parachute Training School at Nowra Hill, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Calhoun gave the keynote address, paying honour to the many locals who served and died not only in World War I but all the conflicts Australia has taken part in.