Services, marches and crowds return for Anzac Day 2022 in Cessnock City

About 2000 people attended Cessnock's Anzac Day dawn service, and more than double that gathered at the TAFE grounds for the 11am service.

Cessnock RSL Sub-Branch president Max Lewis - who has held the role for more than 30 years - said it was the biggest crowd Cessnock has ever had at a dawn service.

It is the first time since 2019 that full-scale Anzac Day observances have been held in New South Wales, after 2020 services were cancelled due to lockdown and last year's events still bound by COVID crowd limits.

Addressing the Cessnock dawn service, Mr Lewis said Anzac Day was a day to remember the tragic cost of war.

"We think of the men who willingly laid down their lives on the battlefield, or succumbed to the perils of the deep or of the air," he said.

"We think of every man woman and child who in those crucial years died so that the likes of freedom and humanity might continue to shine.

"We nurture too, the obligation of showing gratitude for the peace we enjoy, and the responsibility of ensuring that the freedom and liberty so costly won is not lost by our own indifference.

"So let us mourn with pride, but let us also remember with equal pride, those who served and still live.

"As the dawn pierces the night, so let their memory inspire us to work for the coming of new light in the dark places of the world."

Dawn services were also held at Branxton, Greta, Kearsley, Kurri Kurri, Millfield, Paxton and Wollombi, while mid-morning observances took place at Abermain, Aberdare, Kurri Kurri, Greta and Branxton, with large crowds in attendance around the LGA.

Cessnock's 11am service followed a march down Vincent Street, which included veterans and their families, emergency services personnel, Scouts, Guides and - for the first time in three years - a large contingent of local school children.

The guest speaker was Warrant Officer Class II Perry Collier, from the School of Infantry at Singleton.

Warrant Officer Collier said Anzac Day was an opportunity to reflect upon the sacrifice of those who have served, who are currently serving and who will serve in the future.

"Anzac Day has come to symbolise more than just the first Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought so valiantly at Gallipoli," he said.

"It has come to symbolise all men and women who have served in the armed forces, all those who fight to make sacrifices for this country, and all those who continue to uphold the Anzac values.

"Through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, UN peacekeeping missions and other military operations, the men and women of the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force continue to serve Australia with pride and remain true to courage, dedication and loyalty demonstrated by the men in Gallipoli in 1915."

Meanwhile, Kurri Kurri Cemetery was a sea of Australian flags, with Coalfields Local History Association and Towns With Heart once again installing its Field of Honour project.

The project, which started in 2019, honours service personnel who are buried at the cemetery by placing a flag at their grave on Anzac Day.

History association secretary Lexie Matthews said the number of flags has grown to 342 this year, with Britain and New Zealand also represented.

Volunteers also placed hundreds of crocheted poppies at Col Brown Rotary Park for the Kurri Kurri services.

Cessnock residents have turned out in droves to pay their respects to Australians who have served and died in war.

About 2000 people attended Cessnock's Anzac Day dawn service, one of eight dawn services held in the towns and villages around the local government area.

Cessnock RSL Sub-Branch president Max Lewis - who has held the role for more than 30 years - said it was the biggest crowd Cessnock has ever had at a dawn service.

It is the first time since 2019 that full-scale Anzac Day observances have been held in New South Wales, after 2020 services were cancelled due to lockdown and last year's events still bound by COVID crowd limits.

Addressing the Cessnock dawn service, Mr Lewis said Anzac Day was a day to remember the tragic cost of war.

"We think of the men who willingly laid down their lives on the battlefield, or succumbed to the perils of the deep or of the air," he said.

"We think of every man woman and child who in those crucial years died so that the likes of freedom and humanity might continue to shine.

"We nurture too, the obligation of showing gratitude for the peace we enjoy, and the responsibility of ensuring that the freedom and liberty so costly won is not lost by our own indifference.

"So let us mourn with pride, but let us also remember with equal pride, those who served and still live.

"As the dawn pierces the night, so let their memory inspire us to work for the coming of new light in the dark places of the world."

Dawn services were also held at Branxton, Greta, Kearsley, Kurri Kurri, Millfield, Paxton and Wollombi.

Observances still to come around Cessnock City today include:

ABERDARE: 9.30am, service at Veteran's Park.

ABERMAIN: 8.30am, march from the corner of Bathurst Street and Cessnock Road to Jeffries Park cenotaph for the service.

BRANXTON: 11:30am, town march, form up 11.15am in front of old Branxton Inn and paper shop. March to Branxton Rotunda for main service at 11.45am.

BRUNKERVILLE: 3pm, service at Uniting Church memorial garden.

CESSNOCK: 11am, March from Vincent Street Kitchen and Bar, along Vincent Street to the cenotaph for the service at 11.40am in the TAFE grounds.

GRETA: 9.30am, march from the corner of Nelson Street and New England Highway to the cenotaph for the main service at 10am.

KURRI KURRI: 9.45am, march from Mitre 10 to the cenotaph for service at 10am. Field of Honour at Kurri Kurri cemetery throughout the day.

NEATH: 10.30am, lighting of the Miner's Lamp at Grand Neath Hotel.

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