PEACE from the Palace of Versailles to Dean Street was the focus as an Albury-raised naval captain addressed his former hometown's Anzac Day service.
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Charles Huxtable reflected that this year marked a century since the signing of the World War I peace treaty at the grand French chateau near Paris.
"Australia was represented by Prime Minister Billy Hughes who, when asked what right he had to speak, replied 'the right of 60,000 war dead'," Captain Huxtable said.
"Alas in attempting to meet all needs the treaty satisfied few, leading to the supreme allied commander Marshal Foch to say 'this is not peace, this is an armistice for 20 years'.
"He was right, war broke out again in 1939."
The former Albury Public School student, whose naval service has included border patrol operations and deployment to the Middle East, brought the peace message back to the Monument at which he was giving his address.
"The view looking eastward down Dean Street has changed significantly over the last 100 years, but the peace, the tranquility, the sounds of this hill have not changed in 30 years since I last lived in Albury, nor I suspect has it changed since 1925 when the memorial was finished," Captain Huxtable said.
"To me the timelessness of this place and the memorial are a reminder of the fleeting nature of life, of life's little day.
"In the quietness of the mid-morning as we listen to the bush and feel the warmth of the sun the greatness of the sacrifice of 102,000 Australian men and women becomes apparent."
Indeed, the warm weather brought out hundreds of onlookers for the Anzac march along Dean Street.
Among the participants were five daughters of Korean War veteran Sergeant John Bates, who died at the age of 83 in 2013.
It was only the second time that all five, Margaret, Debbie, Suzanne, Vicky and Phillipa, joined their mother Joan, 87, in the march since their father's death.
Margaret held Sergeant Bates' portrait while the others carried items of his captured in that photograph - a beret, scarf and big and large sets of medals.
"This was his day, he served in Korea, Japan and Vietnam; he was wounded in Vietnam," Margaret Bates said.
"Every year from when I was little we would stand up on Mate's corner and watch dad.
"He was a proud Australian and Anzac Day was his day."
The party that reviewed the parade comprised acting Albury mayor Amanda Cohn, Bandiana army chief Colonel Bradley Robertson and police Superintendent Evan Quarmby.
