For few involved in organising the many Border and North East services believe this day celebrates war.

“Quite the contrary,” Albury RSL sub branch president Mark Dando said.

“We’re about saying thank-you to those who have done their bit for Australia and for this great country that we live in.

“It’s a great time for the public and members of the ex-service community to remember those who paid the ultimate price and those who have come home and who are suffering either physical or psychological injuries.”

Myrtleford RSL secretary Bryan Meehan said he had noticed increased interest in the Anzac story among children over the past four years of World War I centenaries.

“We know of course what it’s all about but we tend to sometimes forget ourselves that children don’t,” he said.

“Unless someone’s out there talking to them and reminding them what Australia people did during those periods of time, they may never know the full story.

“It’s the futility of war as much as anything else, what a shocking waste of life it is.”

Mr Meehan said a century ago people responded to their country’s call and this had continued through the years.

“Young students these days need to know that it is an Australian tradition and we represented in a way that we punched way above our weight,” he said.

Military service has been a family tradition also for Lance Corporal Gavin Ghiggioli.

The 26-year-old grew up around Eskdale and joined the Defence Force in 2009.

He served in Darwin and Adelaide before being posted to Bandiana this year.

“When I was in Darwin, I actually went overseas to Afghanistan,” he said.

“I was in infantry at the time so it was on the ground, face to face.

“We had a lot of close calls.

“It had its ups and down, but I’d go again in a heart beat.”

Married with two young daughters, Lance Corporal Ghiggioli is the Bandiana commandant’s driver.

As such he will be back and forth across the border for various Anzac Day commitments.

“I’ll be with the boss all day,” he said.

“My job is to get him there on time.”

Related: Anzac Day across the Border and North East