ANZAC Day 2024: 'best service we've had'

Dungog, Clarence Town and Paterson all started the day early with a dawn service at 5.30am with Clarence Town also having a march to the town's cenotaph.

Dungog and Gresford both held their larger ceremonies at 10.30am.

Dungog's main service began with a march from the post office on Dowling Street to the RSL Club.

The march was accompanied by the roar of a RAAF F35 Lightning jet performing a flyover and leaving the crowd stunned.

President of the Dungog RSL Sub-Committee Neil Tickle said that he was impressed by the turn out.

In particular Mr Tickle was impressed with the squad of US Air Force members who are working with a squadron at the RAAF Base Williamtown in an exchange program.

"I think it was one of the best main services we've had," he said.

"The service went like clockwork and there was a huge crowd. The thing that impressed me the most was the contribution from the Air Force, including all the US Air Force that were here as well.

"They're working with the two-squadron people [who attended the Dungog ANZAC Day service] on the Wedgetail aircraft, an early warning aircraft. They're here for three years on an exchange program."

Mr Tickle estimates that about 350 people attended the main ceremony.

However, he noted that this doesn't necessarily mean that the Sub-Committee is growing with the crowds as his call for younger members remains.

"It was bigger than last year and I thought last year was probably one of the biggest ones. It seems to build every year," Mr Tickle said.

"We've had one extra member since last year and she's brilliant. We're looking for some young blood with new ideas."