An estimated record number of 600 people attend the Dawn Service in Ararat and more than 800 the main Anzac Day Service, with crowds spilling out across Barkly Street and surrounding the Ararat War Memorial.

A large tribute provided by Ararat's New Zealand community was a highlight of the service, as was the unveiling of a carving by former Ararat police member Eddy MacDonald, combining the traditions of Maori and Aboriginal heritage with features sourced from Turkey and Australia. The singing of the New Zealand and Australian national anthems by Ararat West Primary School and Maroona Primary School was also well received.

Guest speaker this year was Major General Tim McOwan (Retired) AO, DSC, CSM, who grew up and attended school in Ararat before enlisting in the Australian Army in 1976, retiring last year after a distinguished career which included command of the Special Air Service Regiment, service in Afghanistan and a two year posting as the Chief of Defence Force Liaison Officer to the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon.

Major General McOwan gave a moving tribute to those first Anzacs, including an emotional tribute to his own mates lost during active service and training.

Every year on Anzac Day he said his thoughts turned to the first Anzacs waiting at dawn to go ashore at Gallipoli; to their suppressed excitement at wanting to get the job done, which must also have been mixed with fear.

"The campaign started almost as an adventure but at the close of the Gallipoli campaign over 8,700 Anzacs were left on those Turkish shores, with 19,400 wounded," he said.

"The original Anzacs were new to soldiering but many of their kind went on to fight at such places as Bullecourt, Messines, Hamel, Amiens, Ghaza, Romani and Magdhaba where many, many more lost their lives - 60,000 out of 380,000 died from a population of five million.

"At the close of the great war they were regarded as the toughest and most experienced troops.

"The young Anzacs came from farms, towns and cities across Australia and New Zealand and many had joined the campaign to see the world, or for a bit of adventure. many of the very first had come from this very town and this district, from Mount Cole, Buangor, Willaura, Moyston, Rhymney Reef, Jallukar and many other areas.

"Beneath their desire for excitement was a genuine belief that what they were doing was righteous and just. In truth, they were no different to the young men and women of today."

Maj Gen McOwan said for Australian and New Zealand troops, past, present and future, the Gallipoli campaign was the foundation upon which their reputation of courage, honesty, dependability and mateship developed.

"We must never forget the deeds, courage and strength of these original Anzacs," he said.

"They established a tradition and national ethos that we are proud to follow today.

"We must also never forget the terrible burden carried by their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers and all that loved them."

Maj Gen McOwan said on Anzac Day we remember all those wars in which our forefathers and friends fought or made the ultimate sacrifice.

Those remembered also include forebears and mates who fought in the second World War, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, South Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, along side our New Zealand counterparts.

In speaking about those lost to war, Major General McOwan said Anzac Day can be a very personal experience, and he paid tribute to his own mates who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"On the rock inside the gates at the Special Air Service Regiment barracks in Western Australia are the names of 47 of my regimental mates, my silent mates, who died on active service and in training," he said.

"Memory is a wonderful thing because I can only remember the humorous and good memories of the blokes whose names are inscribed there. I often remember the faces of these men as they were, before they departed ahead of us.

"All of us know someone who was called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice; I am sure you too remember them exactly as they were.

"They 'do not grow old as we that are left grow old'. Those that have lost mates know it to be true.

"It is upon the lives of all those that have made the 'ultimate sacrifice' that the reputation of today's very fine Navy, Army and Airforce has largely been built.

"Those that served and survived went on to contribute to this wonderful nation. The trials that they and their families experienced made Australia what it is today. I am deeply grateful to all my forebears for all they have done.

"I am not glorifying conflict. Those of us that have experienced it and witnessed death at close quarters know how futile and ignominious death in those circumstances can be.

"Nor am I reflecting in pity, rather I remember the men that I knew with fond memories. I think we all respect them mightily for their sacrifice.

"Today, as we reflect on our friends and relatives and all those that have given their lives in service of their country we should feel tremendous pride. We should be proud of the sacrifice made by them, we should be proud of our navy, army and airforce and all those that serve our nation, and we should be proud of our great country, Australia."