Ryan is one of 20 students selected from the Hunter region who will join with the 8000 Australians on tour to Gallipoli next year for the Anzac centenary tour.

The year 10 student found out last November he was the successful candidate from Dungog High School after undertaking and presenting an historical research project featuring a veteran of the Gallipoli campaign.

The tour is an initiative of the Hunter Valley District Council of RSL Sub-Branches.

Dungog RSL Sub-branch president Neil Tickle asked Ryan if he would be interested in being a part of this year’s Anzac Day service.

““I found the war interesting in a perplexing sort of way and my great-great uncle on my father’s side, Henry Charles Gaylard, fought on the western front in France,” he said.

“Through following Harry’s personal journey, I was able to feel a connection with him as a person and realise the impact that his death must have had on his family who lost their son, brother and friend. 

“It helped me to understand the significance of the Anzac spirit and realise the sacrifices made by all those who served.

 “Being selected to go on the 2015 centenary tour is such an honour.  It is a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to see first-hand what Harry and other young men like him experienced.  

“Being able to visit the Australian battle-fields and to stand on the beach at Gallipoli during the dawn service will be the most amazing and moving experience – and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.

“I am really looking forward to being a part of this year’s Anzac service.

“I have marched with the school in previous years but to be a part of the march is a real honour.”

Anzac Day services in Dungog will begin as the sun rises, with a service to be held at 5.30am at the cenotaph at Dungog Memorial RSL Club.

Following the dawn gathering, there will a short service at the graves of those soldiers who died while encamped at the Dungog showground during World War II. Their graves lie adjacent to the cemetery.

People from the Dungog RSL will then travel to Stroud to take part in their Anzac Day celebrations, before returning to take part in the main service at 10.30am.

A march will take place from the front of the Dungog post office to the RSL cenotaph, followed by a wreath-laying.

Anyone is welcome to lay a wreath during the service at the cenotaph.

Following the service, a lunch will be laid on at the RSL Club for participating servicemen and women and their partners.

Mr Tickle said, over the last few years, crowds at Anzac Day services had grown, particularly at the dawn services.

“In the early 1980s it was dying out but the turning point was the welcome home march in Sydney for Vietnam veterans in 1987.

“The numbers of people commemorating Anzac Day have been increasing ever since.”