Anzac Day services return in earnest across the Hunter

Return: COVID-19 disrupted Anzac commemorations for the past two years. Pictures: Jonathan Carroll

Crowds are returning to Anzac Day services across the Hunter region for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Organisers of the Nobbys dawn service anticipated up to 50,000 attendees will gather this morning after the event was cancelled in 2020 and heavily scaled back last year.

"Obviously it is very important to maintain commemorative services in memory of those that have paid extreme sacrifice or continue to serve the country today," Newcastle RSL president Ken Fayle said.

"It is a very important day for a country like Australia. It reinforces that we are a very true and strong democracy and in this day and age with what is happening around the world people need to be reminded of that.

Paying respect: The Anzac Day march in Newcastle in 2019.

"The community has been commemorating the Anzacs since World War I and the pandemic was the one thing that stopped us. As restrictions lifted the community asked if we were going to do it. We wanted to do it. The community wants to do it and that was the expectation."

A service has not been held at Speers Point for two years. Organiser Lyle Dalton said 8000 people attended the 2019 dawn service, which they were hoping to exceed this year.

"The cancellations meant that we couldn't pay our respects or commemorate our past which was very sad. A lot of people did it on the end of their driveway which was great but it was a lot different to having a full service with people coming together, singing and commemorating," he said.

En masse: Crowds arrive for the Nobbys dawn service in 2019.

"Before the service people emailed and phoned us asking what's on. People were very excited and keen to commemorate the past and the free country we live in.

"It is about the community and all they all get involved in the service. People now bring their own children when they came along as kids so it passes it down to the generations."

The Stockton service was by tickets only last year and cancelled in 2020. Stockton RSL secretary Tom Mason said returning this year is special as it also marks the 100^th anniversary of the Stockton War Memorial.

"It is just terrific because we are able to go back to commemorating the service of those that have gone before us and celebrate the event with the community," he said.

"It is very important to have them participate in these things."