Crowds returned in large numbers for Orange’s first fully-open Anzac Day dawn service, street march, and civic commemoration since 2019.

Estimates put the Dawn Service figure at more than 2000 attending with many arriving early to watch a large screen presentation on Anzac history.

The event included a brass band playing as they marched down Summer Street to the Robertson Park cenotaph with a group of motorcyclists later circling Robertson Park in tribute to those who served.

In another touching moment, a carol of both magpies and galahs was loudly heard welcoming the dawn as the sun rose during the service. 

Spectators later lined Summer Street four-deep for the march past of veterans, schools, Cadet units, marching bands, and scout groups, finishing at the Civic Commemoration at Robertson Park with about 10,000 locals in total taking part.

Anglican Minister, the Reverend Gary Neville, led prayers for the service with Orange High School Choir and String Ensemble providing the musical accompaniment for songs including “In Flanders Fields” and “I am Australian”.

The Commemoration also included two minutes’ silence, wreath-laying, an address by Commodore Charles Huxtable from the Australian Navy, and the national anthems of both Australia and New Zealand.

Millthorpe’s dawn service drew about 1000 locals, equivalent to the village’s whole population, to its post-dawn Anzac Day service held in clear, cool weather.

The march this year, for the first time, started near the Skate Park on Boomerang Road before heading through Redmond Oval to the War Memorial gates.

About 150 pupils from Millthorpe Public School marched along with their teachers. They were joined by former students now attending high schools in Blayney, Bathurst, and Orange as well as student cadets from local units.

A highlight of the event was Millthorpe School’s moving performance of the Anzac Day tribute, Lest We Forget.

As per recent tradition, the Canobolas Highland Pipe Band led the march, which is organised by members of the Lyndhurst RSL sub-branch.

The event was followed by a morning tea with the sub-branch selling its quota of raffle tickets. It was a busy day for the Lyndhurst members who also held commemorative events at the villages of Carcoar, Newbridge and Neville.