Braving a cold but relatively clear early morning, attendees were greeted with a multimedia presentation of first-hand accounts from the Gallipoli landing before the service got underway at 6am.

Ararat City Band provided a musical prelude and bugler Geoff Morley performed the the Last Post and Reveille.

SEE MORE: COMPLETE ANZAC DAY COVERAGE FROM ARARAT, STAWELL, WILLAURA AND GREAT WESTERN

Ararat RSL president Frank Neulist told the audience that April 25 was the day, above all others, that Australia remembers its own soldiers and those from New Zealand who died or suffered in war.

“The Dawn Service has its origins in an operational routine still observed by the Australian Army today,” he said.

“The half light before dawn plays tricks on soldiers from the earliest times.

“With all its grey and misty shadows, it is most favoured for attack by the enemy, so defensive positions were manned by awake and alert troops.

“As the light crept across the battlefield this, and still is, known as ‘Stand To’.”

Mr Neulist said more than 60,000 Australians lost their lives in the First World War and 156,000 were left wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.

“Today we remember the 400 plus from Ararat that joined a far-off fight in foreign lands, some never to return,” he said.

“We hold this day, April 25, as the day that shaped our character and our destiny more than any other. On that day  Australian and New Zealand troops landed under fire at Gallipoli, and it was then, and in the campaign that followed, that the Anzac tradition was forged.”

Mr Neulist said the Gallipoli campaign served as an inspiring example for generations of Australians.

“Each year we pay homage not only to those original Anzacs, but to all who died or were disabled in the service of our country,” he said.

“They enrich out nations history. Their hope was for the freedom of mankind and we remember them with pride.

“Their courage, their compassion and their comradeship.

“They served on land, sea and air in many places across the world.”

Mr Neulist said Australia currently had men and women serving overseas in conflict zones and asked the audience to welcome visiting militarily personnel and veterans to Ararat and show appreciation for their service.

Ararat RSL hosted a ‘gunfire breakfast’ after the dawn service. 

The following Anzac Day services are planned for the Grampians Region for April 25, 2018

Ararat's commemorations begin with the Dawn Service from 5.30am (for a 6am start) at the Ararat Cenotaph in Barkly Street, followed by a Gunfire Breakfast (gold coin donation) at the Ararat RSL. 

The ANZAC Day parade begins at Ingor Street at 10am, where it travels down Barkly Street finishing at the Cenotaph for a longer service. 

Special guest for both services is former RSL State President, Major General David McLoughlan AO (retired).

Stawell RSL has released the times of Anzac Day services for Wednesday, April 25.

A dawn service will be held at 6am at the Stawell War Memorial on Main Street. It will be followed by a gun fire breakfast at Stawell Entertainment Centre. 

Stawell will host its march and commemorative service at 11am, with marchers assembling in Wimmera Street between the medical centre and post office. Light refreshments will be provided at Stawell RSL after the Stawell Service. 

Great Western will host a march and commemorative service at 9am, with refreshments provided at Great Western Mechanics Institute Hall at the completion of the service.

The Dawn Service at the Cenotaph will commence at 6am, and will be followed by a Gunfire Breakfast at the Memorial Hall.

The Willaura Lions Club will provide breakfast for a gold coin donation.

The second service will begin at 9am with a Stand To at the Cenotaph, immediately followed by a march to the Memorial Hall.

Guest speakers at this year’s Hall Service will be a number of local residents who have particular links to Australia’s war efforts.

Following the service in the Memorial Hall a short ceremony will be held at the Plantation Memorial. Willaura Primary School Parents will host morning tea in the Supper Room.

6am – Dawn service, Beaufort Cenotaph

10.15am – March, Beaufort RSL Hall, Willoby Street

10.40am – Main service, Beaufort Cenotaph

5.45am – Dawn Service at the Ballarat Cenotaph in Sturt Street

8am – Wreath laying service at the Ballarat Arch of Victory

9am – Ex-Prisoner of War Memorial wreath laying service

10.30am  – March, from Lyons Street South to Ballarat Cenotaph

11am  – Commemorative Service, Ballarat Cenotaph

8.45am – March from the Sebastopol Post Office, Albert Street

9am – Commemorative Service at the Sebastopol Cenotaph, Albert Street

10.15am – Commemorative Service from the Buninyong RSL, Learmonth Street

6am – Dawn Service, cenotaph on Albert Street

9.20am – Wreath laying, soldiers’ section of the Creswick Cemetary

10am – Wreath laying, Memorial stones, RSL hall on Albert Street

10.30am – March, beginning near splash park on Albert Street

10.45am – Creswick Remembrance Service, cenotaph on Albert Street 

9am – Wreath laying, Kingston Avenue of Honour memorial 

Bungaree 

8am – Bungaree and District Historical Society Anzac service

10am – Wreath laying service, Miners Rest Cenotaph in Howe Street

6am – Dawn service at Clunes RSL. 11am Memorial at cenotaph, Fraser Street

8.30am – Service at Clunes Cemetery

10.45am – March, wreath laying and commemoration service, Clunes Town Hall 

6.30am – Dawn service, Daylesford Cenotaph

10.15am – March, Daylesford Town Hall

10.30am – Main service, Daylesford Cenotaph 

6am | Dawn service at the Cenotaph at Sawyer Park

10.10am | March from Horsham RSL on McLachlan Street to the Cenotaph

11am | Service begins

Special guests: Don Pirouet, Major David Ellis, Bob Lockwood and Mark Radford

10.30am | March assemble at corner of Main and Jory Streets

11am | Service at Soldiers Memorial Hall

Special guest: Lieutenant Delphine Astier

10.45am | Assemble at war memorial for a march to the town hall

11.15am | Service followed by march to war memorial for laying of wreaths 

Special guest: Major Melissa Hopkins 

8am | Moose's Breakfast at RSL Hall, Langford Street

10.30am | Service at Cenotaph followed by service at Edenhope Mechanics Hall. Light refreshments available at RSL Hall to watch the AFL Anzac Day football match 

10am | March from police station to war memorial followed by memorial service at Goroke Hall. Wreath and cross laying at war memorial, morning tea and display of memorabilia in Goroke Hall.

Special guest: Pam Cupper 

10.30am | Ecumenical Service at Harrow RSL Hall 

11am | March past of veterans and RSL members with piper Andrew Teusner followed by wreath laying ceremony, the Last Post, Reveille and National Anthem 

Special guest: Leading Senior Constable Jim Richardson of Goroke Police Station 

10.55am | Assemble at RSL Park, service at Cenotaph followed by refreshments at Club Hotel, 54 Commercial Street, Kaniva 

6.30am | Dawn service at the war memorial statue in Goldsworthy Park with barbecue breakfast to follow, hosted by Rotary

10.30am | Wreath laying at the Cenotaph, followed by gathering for a march to the Nhill Memorial Community Centre

11am | Service at Nhill Memorial Community Centre followed by morning tea in the Soldiers Lounge 

Special guest: Henry Berry  

6am | Dawn service at the Dimboola memorial site 

6.30am | Breakfast at the Dimboola Memorial Secondary College

Special guest: Charlie Rees

8.30am | March leaving from Dimboola Memorial Secondary College followed by wreath laying at cenotaph, commemoration service at Dimboola Memorial Secondary College auditorium. Followed by morning tea at Dimboola RSL Sub-branch in Lloyd Street

Special guest: Lieutenant Commander Lachlan Sowden RAN 

6am | Dawn Service at Broadway Memorial, followed by breakfast at the RSL clubrooms

11am | Service at Jeparit Memorial Hall followed by a march to the Broadway Memorial for wreath laying service, barbecue lunch at the RSL clubrooms

Special guest: Andrew Almond 

Rainbow

9.45am | Assemble at the Cenotaph followed by march. Service to follow at the MECCA on Federal Street followed by morning tea at the Rainbow RSL supper room 

Warracknabeal

10:30am | Assembly commences at corner of Milbourne and Scott Street, followed by march and wreath laying ceremony at the Anzac Park gates

Special guest: Graeme Massey

6am | Dawn service at the RSL Hall followed by breakfast 

10am | Ceremony at the Memorial Hall

11am | Ceremony commences at the Memorial Gates of the Recreation Reserve barbecue to follow at the Lake Reserve

9am | Service at Brim Memorial Hall

7am | March from the Boolite Road corner followed by a service at the Cenotaph

9.15am | Dedication of the World War I memorial 

9.30am | March from the Minyip Memorial Gates followed by a service at the Memorial Hall

9.45am | March from the police station followed by a service at the Rupanyup Memorial Hall and the unveiling of the Pillars following morning tea

6am | Dawn service at Murtoa Memorial Gates 

11.30am | March from the fire station followed by a service at the Murtoa Memorial Gates

10.45am | Assembly at Patchewollock Hotel followed by a ceremony and light lunch at the Patchewollock Hall 

Special guest: Colin Mack