Inclement weather did not stop thousands of people gathering in Brisbane's CBD this morning to watch the Anzac Day parade and dawn service.
In one inner-city Brisbane street, lone digger Trevor Robinson, 88, marched solo down a Paddington street for the Light Up The Dawn service as his neighbours watched on in support.
With COVID restrictions now lifted for the whole of the state, crowds also gathered across Queensland for the first time in two years.
The dawn service included a moving rendition of the Last Post, hymns, a minute's silence, and the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand.
People continued to brave the rain after the ceremony to lay wreaths at the shrine.
Following the service, a super hornet jet marked the start of the march with a CBD flyover as Adelaide Street filled with personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and allied troops.
War widows, descendants of veterans and youth groups also took part in the parade, some wielding umbrellas as they defiantly marched through the rain.
Likewise, crowds weren't deterred by the rain and wind on the Gold Coast, as thousands returned to Currumbin for its first full capacity Dawn Service since 2020.
Anzac Day is always an emotional day for Cherisa Pearce, who is fourth-generation military.
"Mum was an army nurse, brother was a helicopter pilot who went to Afghanistan, dad was a medic in Vietnam and my partner, we joined the army on the same day," Ms Pearce said.
"For us it's bigger than a Christmas Day or a birthday, it's the one day we all get together and no one argues about who is going to host it, we all come back here (to the Currumbin RSL).
"My parents come from Adelaide and my brother from north of Brisbane, so it's really special."
Ms Pearce said today was extra special for her family, as her grandmother's ashes were spread out at sea as part of the service.
"She was a war widow, so her husband was a World War II navy man. He's already out at sea, she finally got to join him after 22 years."
The Currumbin dawn service is the largest on the Gold Coast, with thousands of people lining the sand to be part of the service.
Bugler Adam Turner has played the Last Post at the Currumbin dawn service, among other services, for the past 20 years.
"This was my grandfather's bugle, he had this during World War II, fought in New Guinea, North Africa," Mr Turner said.
"When he passed away, I started doing it after that.
"It's a bit battered but it still sounded fantastic."
Large turnout 'fantastic'
From major cities to small towns and communities, people came together, including one neighbourhood in Mundoolun, north of Logan, where residents lined their street with torches and took part in a morning service followed by breakfast.
In Bundaberg, president of the local RSL branch, Graham Crowden, said about 4,000 people were expected at the parade.
"It's probably the largest service I've seen since the 100th anniversary back in 2015. And what a great turnout, it was absolutely fantastic," he said.
Navy veteran Max Francis said today was about catching up with his comrades.
"We've found great strength in being back together and talking through some of the situation's the dangerous situations and you know, how lucky we were to have survived, and we talk about mates who have passed."
He said he was pleased to see the number of school students involved in the ceremonies and keeping the Anzac spirit alive.
"It's fantastic to see the younger children, some of them only five and six years old, wearing their ancestors' medals, and you know military history here in Australia is very deep."
Battle of the Coral Sea commemorated in Townsville
Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said as Australia's largest garrison city, Townsville was no stranger to the reality of war.
"As home of Lavarack Barracks and RAAF Base Townsville, our community understands the role our soldiers play in defending this nation and the sacrifices involved," she said.
While the day's focus was on the Anzacs who fought in Gallipoli, Ms Greaney said there was a time where conflict had also been on Townsville's doorstep.
"This year we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea," she said.
"As the largest operation base in the south-west Pacific during World War II, the battle was … a turning point in the pacific theatre of war.
"Today it is remembered as the battle for Australia."
Ms Greaney said today was about recognising not only the loss of Australian forces, but also international allies.
