ANZAC DAY – Assessments from Anzac Day dawn services in Australia suggest crowds were well down, especially at Sydney’s Martin Place, amid tightened security by New South Wales Police.

Security measures were increased across the country, with the Federal Government warning of a possible attack.

Organisers have said while there was no specific intelligence, the warnings were being taken seriously.

New South Wales Veterans’ Affairs Minister David Elliot encouraged people to ignore fears and attend the planned events in the Sydney CBD.

“If you don’t turn up to a public event like Anzac Day because of the threat of terrorism, you are already a victim of terrorism,” Elliot said.

Anzac Day morning’s services in Australia and New Zealand commemorated the 102nd anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli Beach.

In Gallipoli Turkish organisers doubled the number of soldiers and police on duty.

This year, for the first time, Indigenous soldiers lead the national Anzac Day march in Canberra as an overdue acknowledgement of a long fight for recognition for their contribution to Australia’s military campaigns.

Many other annual Anzac Day traditions went ahead as usual in Australia, including the blockbuster AFL match at the MCG between Essendon and Collingwood.

Hundreds of services were held at dawn – from the large civic ceremonies in major centres, to smaller commemorations in towns and settlements in Australian and New Zealand.

In her first service as Governor-General, Dame Patsy Reddy said 100 years ago today, most of New Zealand’s troops were serving on the Western Front.

“We can only imagine the thoughts of people attending services in 1917. For the bereaved, an Anzac Day service was the nearest thing to a funeral that their loved ones would ever have,” Dame Patsy said in Wellington.

World War Two veteran Bill Mitchell, 104, was at the Wellington dawn service.

He said he was proud of the service he did for New Zealand, he said.

In Hamilton, RSA chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Don Oliver spoke of the sacrifice made by so many in all wars.

He quoted an anonymous soldier who said dying for one’s country was not so bad – being forgotten was worse.

This year, Australians are being urged to look beyond the typical image of a soldier and recognise all men and women who served. Chris May, co-founder of support group Young Veterans, said many veterans often went unnoticed.

“Everyone thinks it’s just a soldier’s day – it’s not,” he said.

“We’ve got sailors and airmen and women that are serving the country so that’s the important message – everyone has served.”

He said female veterans were still sidelined by the greater community.

“We’ve got women who have served in conflicts since Gallipoli, we had nurses over there and we still have an issue where women are being questioned about their medals as if they are their grandfather’s or their father’s.”

While Anzac Day is a proud day for many, May said it could also raise troubling memories.

“Anzac Day is a really tough time for a lot of people, myself included. We’ve all been affected in some way by our military service and help is definitely available. Don’t be shy in putting your hand up and saying you’re not okay.”

Meanwhile, Australian and New Zealanders attending Anzac commemorations at Gallipoli were met with “incredibly tight” security after a warning terrorists could target the events. - PNC sources