“I think it went very well,” he said.
“The crowds seem to get bigger every year. I think this was the biggest we’ve seen.”
The day started before the sun rose with a sea of local people visible through the shadows, showing their respect on a brisk autumn morning, for the dawn service.
Bridge St East then started to swell with people about 10.45am as the Anzac Day parade set off towards the cenotaph.
Crowds waved and cheered as veterans and their families proudly walked to the 11am service.
A lone early-era biplane flew above, before disappearing into the distance.
The 11am service featured guest speaker Ian May, who told a story of the lighter side of service.
Local school students including FCJ College’s Emily Snell and Australian Christian College captain Flynn Mosley spoke to the crowd which stretched well into the botanical gardens and across Bridge St East.
“Ian told some great stories and had the crowd riveted,” Mr Hartland said.
“And it’s nice to see so many young people there.
“I had a young kid come up to me and say, ‘You marching today, mister?’’’
“I said, ‘yes’, and he pointed to his right side of his shirt and said, ‘I'm marching with my grandfather's group’.
“It was brilliant and he'd only have been about 10.”
Mr Hartland was headed straight off to Warrenbayne cemetery.
“There was a ceremony out there where they were marking unmarked graves.
“The local community paid to have them marked.”
Mr Hartland said he’d like to express his sincerest gratitude to everyone who attended.
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