More than sixty students, teachers and legatees from Ararat College, Marian College, Stawell Secondary College, Beaufort Secondary College and Lake Bolac College joined a record number of more than 6,000 students from across Victoria to be part of the ceremony and to commemorate the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli.

The annual ceremony which remembers and gives thanks to the men and women whose love of their country and sacrifice in wartime enabled Australians to live in peace and freedom today, had special significance this year with the centenary.

The swell in numbers of students of all ages and cultures was testament to the occasion.

The ceremony included the guard of honour for the Governor of Victoria, Alex Chernov AC QC, who then addressed the crowd and was followed by the Victorian winner of the Legacy Junior Public Speaking Awards, Laura Benney who spoke on personal sacrifice.

Wreaths were laid by representatives of all the schools and colleges present, with Ararat Legacy represented by Lauren Bowles from Ararat College, Peta Chaplin from Marian College, Bob McKenzie from Stawell Secondary College, Abby Tiley from Beaufort Secondary College, Jasmine Clark and Amy McIntyre from Lake Bolac College.

Following the service students, teachers and legatees took the opportunity to spend time within the Shrine taking in the many facets of Gallipoli and other conflicts over the decades that have had an impact on Australian families and reinforced the significance of ANZAC Day.

Ararat Legacy has each year been able to offer this opportunity to regional secondary college students between year seven to 10 so they can too be part of the Anzac spirit through funding support by the Victoria Government Veterans Council Grant Program.

Ararat Legacy President, Legatee Des Weller said Ararat Legacy is very pleased that through significant Victorian Government funding they have been able to continue their annual trek to the Shrine of Remembrance for the Anzac ceremony for students.

"This year is significant being the centenary of the Gallipoli landing and it is so pleasing that the colleges within our Legacy region have enthusiastically supported the initiative with the highest number ever attending.

"The Anzac spirit is very much alive and our heritage is very much in good hands through our future generations of young Australians who I am sure will not forget the importance of Anzac Day in Australia's history."

Ararat Legacy was founded on September 28, 1929 and today legatees continue to give personal and voluntary service to maintain the Legacy ideals and standards.

The body of Ararat Legacy is spread across the club's area of responsibility encompassing Ararat, Stawell, Beaufort, Avoca, Lake Bolac and Willaura and combined the club looks after about 180 widows.