Navy Commodore Michelle Miller made the reflection as she stood beneath the monument and gave the keynote address on a day when its whiteness matched the sky’s colour.

“This elevated cenotaph was designed as a permanent visual reminder to the people of Albury and importantly the commercial and political powers in Dean Street of the real cost of prosperity and democracy,” Commodore Miller said.

Albury’s state parliamentarian Greg Aplin and mayor Kevin Mack were among those who listened to the speech which also heralded various important anniversaries in 2017.

“It has been 100 years since just under 77,000 Australians became casualties in battles such as Bullecourt, Messine and the four-month campaign around Ypres, known as the battle of Passchendale,” Commodore Miller said.

“It is now 75 years since the Japanese threat came closest to our shores when our towns in the north were bombed and Sydney Harbour attacked.

“It is also just over 50 years since the Australian task force’s decisive victory in August 1966 in Long Tan in Vietnam and then in February 1967 our nearest close defeat in Operation Bribie.

“The list of battles, courage and heroism from 100, 75 and 50 years ago is long, too long. However, since the first Anzac Day commemoration in 1916 today has become not about any single battle or event; it has become our day of commemoration – a day of community remembrance where we pass something of meaning on from generation to generation.”

As a concession to the unstinting rain, the service was shortened by 10 minutes by cutting the song I am Australian and two verses of a hymn from proceedings.

Albury RSL sub-branch president Mark Dando, who was overseeing his first Anzac Day in that role, believed attendances at the dawn service, march and 10am service held up in spite of the rain.

“We had lots of numbers again and when you get numbers like that on a day like today you have to be impressed,” Mr Dando said.

“On a fine day it’s reasonable to expect a good turnout but you have to really care to come on a day like this.

“It shows Anzac Day is not dead or buried by a long shot.”