More than 175 people attended the Anzac Day service in Dookie, with attendees spilling out on to Baldock St.
Dookie RSL Sub-branch president Graeme Laws was delighted with the turnout.
“It was pleasing to see, as the club is trying to enliven the day to make it more relevant to our community while keeping the traditions,” he said.
Dookie Primary School students played a significant part and guest speaker Chadd Baker spoke eloquently of the role of boy soldiers in World War I.
Master of ceremonies David Schier spoke for the many fellow Vietnam veterans who were present when he expressed serious concern about the presence of a communist regime in the Solomon Islands.
“Sixty years ago this year, we were sent 7000km to fight a communist regime in Vietnam, which cost over 700 lives and thousands wounded,” he said.
“Yet now we see a larger communist country with high-range weapons just 3000km from Canberra but without any accentuated response from our government.
“Many servicemen of the past are at a total loss to understand this.”