Before the sun rose on Saturday, communities across the Mid West and Gascoyne gathered to pay their respects to Australian and New Zealand armed forces personnel and honour their sacrifice.
For some communities still recovering from the damage inflicted by cyclone Narelle, Anzac Day was an opportunity to pause and come together.
Flags flew at half-mast in Exmouth, where the community gathered early for the dawn service. The past month has been traumatic for Exmouth residents, who have been recovering from the cyclone at the end of March.
The service brought people together to pay their respects and reflect.
Shark Bay also had a well-attended dawn service, with a civic service later in the morning.
Geraldton, which always has one of the biggest turnouts in the State, had a crowd of about 4000 gather in front of Birdwood House for its dawn service.
A march and service were held later in the morning.
Mullewa started the day with a traditional gunfire breakfast followed by a mid-morning civic service.
In Walkaway, the community braved the early-morning cold for the dawn service and wreath-laying ceremony.
Kalbarri honoured the Anzacs with a morning parade and service. One of the guest speakers at the Kalbarri service was Olympian and former politician Nova Peris, who read the Ode Of Remembrance and shared her reflections on the meaning of Anzac Day.
“I also had the privilege of meeting Uncle Graham Taylor, a proud Yamatji Vietnam veteran from Geraldton, who had just turned 19 years old when he left Australian shores in 1971 to serve in Vietnam. After six years of service to Australia, he remains a man of quiet strength, humility, and deep character,” Ms Peris posted on social media.
“These are the men and women we honour.”
About 250 people attended the dawn service in Meekatharra at Paddy’s Flat. The service brought together residents, families, service personnel, and visitors to reflect on Anzac Day.
After the early-morning ceremony, a gunfire breakfast was served in the Mess Hall.
Cue’s dawn service had more than 200 community members attend Arthur Gurney Park to pay their respects, followed by a gunfire breakfast.
The Shire of Mingenew took to social media to thank those who attended its dawn service and the hardworking volunteers who made it happen.
The dawn service and gunfire breakfast is a valuable yearly tradition in the town.
The Carnarvon dawn service, held at the war memorial, was well attended by service people, families, and those who wished to pay their respects.
Coral Bay had a strong turnout for its dawn service, as the community came together to honour the Anzacs.
The Three Springs and Districts RSLWA sub-branch organised three events in Coorow, Three Springs, and Carnamah.
The events featured performances by local musicians and speeches by school students.
The Mt Magnet community gathered throughout the morning for a dawn service, march, and civic service. The events brought the town together for a morning of reflection and appreciation.
The Dongara community also came together to pay their respects at a dawn service.
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