Taking the opportunity opportunity to honour all diggers, past, present and future, as well as their families, it was heartening to see so many faces young and old, avail themselves at the local 2016 Anzac Day commemorative services.

Particularly considering that there was also respective services in the nearby villages of Jugiong and Wombat, there was still very strong representation at each of the three main commemorative services in the twin towns.

It all started on Anzac Day eve with the Harden Country Club hosting a movie night screening Kokoda on Sunday night.

Early the next morning, an encouraging number of people got up early and attended the Dawn Service at the Newson Park Cenotaph in Harden.

Just a few hours later, hundreds of people lined the streets for the family-friendly mid-morning parade and march which featured the 6^th and 7^th Light Horse units, veterans, flag bearers, medal wearers and school children.

A large contingent of students from the Murrumburrah High School, Murrumburrah Public School, Trinity Catholic Primary School and Hennessy Catholic College, Young all marched with purpose on the day.

Starting outside the Post Office in Neill Street, the marchers and entourage then made their way to the town’s cenotaph for the main commemoration service.

By this stage the crowd continued to swell all the more as onlookers observed and participated in a well-organised service by Emcee Tim O’Keefe and his team of volunteers.

 and two representatives from each of the aforementioned schools joined in with several members of the community in laying a wreath at the cenotaph.

Mayor John Horton was present on behalf of himself and in his capacity as a Harden Shire councillor. Horton was called upon to officially welcome to those attending.

Retired Catholic priest Fr Pat Kenna read out the ‘Commemoration of the Fallen’ before delivering a powerful reflection of his own, involving fallen soldier Private Maurice Redwood.

The remaining formalities then played out with the ‘Ode’ being read by Tim O’Keefe. Teenage bugle player Hayden Dalton of Epping College, Sydney sounded out the ‘Last Post’ and ‘Rouse’ before the community joined in to sing ‘Abide With Me’ and then the national anthem.

From there, marching members marched there way back to the Harden Post Office before being dismissed.

The third function of the day, was down at the Light Horse Memorial in Murrumburrah, where a ceremony conducted by Brian Dunn took place.

Mayor John Horton provided the welcome before there was an unveiling of two new plaques respectively by Mr Gordon Hughes (6^th Light Horse) and Mr Gordon Dowling (7^th Lighthorse).

New Murrumburrah Harden Anglican Minister gave his blessing at the dedication of the plaques, while Trinity Catholic Primary School students Emily Lenehan and Eliza Butt read out appropriate prayers for the occasion.

Young bugler Hayden Dalton was also called upon for another rendition of the ‘Last Post’