By MATT NICHOLLS
THE sound of silence was deafening in Armidale’s Central Park on Friday morning as hundreds gathered to commemorate Anzac Day at dawn.
Only the water from the war memorial fountain could be heard as people paid their respects to past and present soldiers serving their country.
Armidale RSL sub-branch Bob Holloway was once again pleased with the big turnout of people at the services across the region.
“I thought numbers were down a bit (at the 11am service), but it’s hard to tell with them so spread out,” he said.
“But numbers were up at the dawn service, so maybe that’s the difference.”
Around 400 people paid their respects at Dangarsleigh at the footsteps of the memorial built by the Perrott family following World War I, while there were around 150 people at the intimate service at Hillgrove.
Crowds at Uralla and Guyra were well up, according to organisers.
Mr Holloway said he was pleased to see a big crowd gather in Faulkner Street to watch the morning march.
“To have them clapping the people participating really meant a lot,” he said.
Mr Holloway said plans would now start to take shape for next year’s services and activities regarding the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
“I think the services will be mostly similar, but we are trying to organise a ball,” he said.
“Finding the right time will be the key.”
Mr Holloway said the ball could be held a week before Anzac Day or in the weeks following 25 April.
“If we do something like that we want to get it right,” he said.
