ANZAC Day - a time to pay your respects and remember the sacrifice of our servicemen and women ... not just drink.
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April 25 is looming and RSLs across the state are urging everyone to respect the day's significance.
And Bathurst has played a key role in having that important message rolled out.
A call for action by Bathurst RSL last year has now been followed by 35 clubs across NSW in a bid to stamp out disrespectful behaviour on our national day of remembrance.
- READ MORE: Respect the day, Bathurst RSL Club is urging
The club started the campaign to remind people that there was more to Anzac Day than a day off from work, with the themes of mateship, courage and sacrifice at the forefront of their push.
And Bathurst RSL Club marketing manager Janneke van der Sterren says the club is proud of the fact the campaign was developed here.
The RSL and Services Clubs Association took Bathurst's message on board, promoting that the day has a lot of meaning to it, including to celebrate freedoms, remember sacrifices, honour traditions and look after mates.
"It's not just a day off, and a time to get drunk because it's a public holiday," Ms van der Sterren said.
The message is to always respect the sacrifices Australians made, particularly while many returned service people are around.
"If they're standing at the bar, let them ahead of you. Give them a pat on the back and say thank you."
Bathurst RSL is calling for locals to get involved in the day's activities by going to the services and heading to the club for two up as a way to show gratitude for the sacrifices Australian's made during war.
"For all Australians, whether you were born here or not, everyone's been affected by war," Ms van der Sterren said,
"It's a day to reflect on how lucky we are as country."
Respect The Day promotional video
Have a drink or two, but don't drink to excess is the plea being made statewide.
"We just ask that when people come that they think about what the day's about," Ms van der Sterren said.
Anzac Day began as a commemoration of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915, but has become a day to represent Australians in every theatre of conflict and to be commemorated by any families who had been touched in some way by war.
