AS they gathered in the pre-dawn hour, huddled around the Bathurst War Memorial Carillon illuminated in red and blue this morning, Bathurst residents were asked to reflect on the sacrifices made by the men and women of Australia's armed forces.
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Though the crowd which gathered for this year's ANZAC Day dawn service was down on the massive numbers which turned out in 2015 to mark the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli, there was still a strong presence.
Bathurst RSL Sub Branch president David Mills asked them to think about the day which lay ahead of them.
"Dawn is almost here, bringing with it a sunrise on a new day as we gather to honour, commemorate and to remember all who have served, all those who have died," he said.
"A new day full of hope, full of promise ... it's yours, it's free, it's given to you to do as you please."
Mr Mills then pondered what the servicemen and women from years past, and those who are involved in conflicts today, think about in the hours before sunrise.
"The pre-dawn, the time of preparation, the nervous waiting, the anticipation. For some a time of prayer, others that last letter home to a loved one, thoughts of one's mortality, family. For some the strain of a sleepless night and the thinking, thinking 'What will this day bring me?'
"For them and those who experienced those thoughts, of course it was so unpredictable, so uncertain, so little to be sure of.
"I wonder what their thoughts were in the pre-dawn awaiting the beginning of a new day, those in the ships, in the fields, on the plane, behind the guns, on the bases, on the shores."
Of course not all those who have served went on to see the sun rise in the morning, or witness its setting in the evening. Mr Mills highlighted how lucky Bathurst residents are today to not face that same prospect.
"If I were to say to you, all of you here - yes everyone of you gathered this morning - that for you the sun will not come up, I wonder what your response would be?," he questioned.
" 'That's ridiculous' you would say, there would be disbelief, you would declare it a joke. We have the right to this day."
As wreaths were laid and the notes of the piper broke through the darkness, people took the time to reflect on their freedom.
Toddlers clung to their parents, a son put his arms around his mother, while others silently wiped tears from their eyes. They were thankful of the sacrifices others made for them. They were thankful the day was theirs.
* To see the times of the rest of the ANZAC Day services, CLICK HERE
