Carrying medals and photos of his father Frank, who served on HMAS Australia in World War II, Barry wanted to honour his dad and those he served with.
"He and I marched together in 1966," Mr Wilkins told AAP while marching through central Sydney.
"I wanted to do it on the 50th anniversary but didn't get to make it, so 60th anniversary I wanted to do this for dad."
Thousands of onlookers lined Elizabeth Street to cheer on diggers past and present in glorious sunshine.
While the past is normally front of mind on Anzac Day, plenty wanted those commemorating to think of the present as well.
Those whose military careers were cut short against their will should also be front of mind, RSL NSW acting president Vince Williams told AAP.
"When you've been in a career where life is organised for you … when you transition out, you may not be able to afford to live in the area which was your last posting location," he said.
Earlier, the sombre atmosphere of the dawn service was broken by booing during the acknowledgement of Country by Pastor and Uncle Ray Minniecon.
After those responsible were quieted and the acknowledgement concluded, an extended chorus of applause and cheering rang out.
"We do have laws to try and deter people from this but it seems like these people still want to be lawless," Uncle Minniecon said after the ceremony.
"They just need to realise their place in this country."
A 24-year-old man was taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with committing nuisance regarding a war memorial.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on June 3.
Retired brigadier Mr Williams had strong words for those who sought to disrupt.
"I'm pretty convinced none of the bunch of louts who were booing have ever done anything constructive for our nation," he said.
Premier Chris Minns condemned them too but commended those who celebrated Uncle Minniecon's contribution.
"Whilst I've never heard booing like that at a dawn service, I've also never heard a crowd spontaneously applaud as they did," the premier said in a statement.
With thoughts far from the controversy, those attending the march felt the full weight of what Anzac Day represents.
Vietnam veteran Alan Hastie and wife Marlene, from Albury in southern NSW, said they'd been to dozens of marches but they still had the power to draw emotion.
"I'm getting a bit teary now as it is," Mr Hastie told AAP.
For others, like war widow Fran Brock, seeing so many young people both marching and spectating provided a sense of optimism for the future.
"It's brilliant to see our young ones supporting now, it's fabulous," Ms Brock said.
The formalities concluded, people in their thousands migrated to various hotels around the city to indulge another kind of Anzac Day tradition, two-up.
Pubs in The Rocks, Paddington and at Clovelly were particular favourites.
The typically Australian pastime is only allowed on one day a year and even then only beyond midday.
An afternoon commemoration service was held at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park before a sunset service at the Cenotaph.
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