Sale’s city centre was shut down for Anzac Day commemorations on Tuesday, marking 108 years since Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed on the shores of Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

Some woke before the sun to remember those who lost their lives serving their country, the Sale dawn service, led by the president of the Sale RSL, Royal Australian Air Force Warrant Officer CSC Brian Holcoft, attracted close to 1000 attendees.

President of the Sale RSL, Royal Australian Air Force Warrant Officer CSC Brian Holcoft, welcomes guests to the 2023 Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Sale Memorial Hall. Photos: Zoe Askew

Bodies spilled onto MacArthur Street as civilians, former and current serving Australian Defence Force members, came together at the Cenotaph, in front of Sale Memorial Hall, under cover of darkness, to remember them.

To remember the more than 8,000 Australian soldiers who died at Gallipoli.

To remember the more than 60,000 Australians who died in World War 1.

To remember the more than 30,000 Australians who died in World War 2.

To remember the 103,021 Australian men and women who died serving their country.

Anzac Day Dawn Service crowds become visible as the sun rises in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

As the sun rose, lighting a once-dark MacAllister Street, flower wreaths laid before the Cenotaph, empty plastic chairs, a portable screen and a microphone held securely in its black metal stand were the only reminiscences of the early morning event, with attendees dispersing from the Dawn Service to their following respective plans.

Back to bed for some, home for breakfast for others.

For many, their return home was merely temporary as they headed to the Sale Cemetery for the War Graves Service at 9am.

By 10am Raymond Street and MacAllister Street in Sale were bustling with life as hundreds descended upon the town’s centre to witness the 2023 Anzac Day parade before attending the commemorative service and wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph.

People of all ages, young and old, lined the two Sale streets, children eagerly anticipating the parade’s beginning as views of marches taking their positions teased inquisitive minds.

As the Sale clocktower read 10.30am, a police escort led the Anzac Day parade down the main street of Sale, two Willys MB jeeps the first in line, followed by the Sale City Band donning their distinguishable vibrant red blazers, Australian Defence Force personnel from the RAAF Base East Sale, local veterans and veteran representatives, the Salvation Army, Scouts and school groups.

The Salvation Army member John Bennselly.

Ross Jackson, treasurer secretary of the Gippsland Veteran’s Centre, trainee welfare advocate and historian for the Sale RSL and the Gippsland Veteran’s Centre, was amazed at the considerable number of serving Australian Defence Force members from the RAAF Base East Sale who marched in this year’s Anzac Day Parade.

“The RAAF this year, I have not seen that amount of RAAF personnel [participating in the parade and morning service],” Mr Jackson said.

“I was wondering to myself if there was even anybody left out at the RAAF Base with the size of that RAAF contingent that came through.

“The crowds [at the Dawn Service, Anzac Day parade and morning service] were much bigger than what we have had for probably five or six years.

“So they were things that struck me as being really good to see for the day.”

Sale City band in the 2023 Anzac Day Parade.

The Anzac Day parade, commencing at the Sale Clocktower, concluded at the Sale Memorial Hall; serving Australian Defence Force personnel lined the left side of the Cenotaph with attendees, including veterans, civilians, emergency services representatives, school students and politicians funnelling into the Sale Memorial Hall courtyard, spilling onto MacAllister Street, spanning as far back as Sale College.

Former RAAF service woman and current vice president of the Sale RSL Kylie Willmont led the morning service with honourable guests in attendance, including The Nationals Member for Gippsland South and Shadow Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Danny O’Brien, Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye, Group Captain Brett Williams, Senior ADF Officer, RAAF Base East Sale and chairman of the Gippsland Veteran’s Centre Michael Page.

Gippsland Veteran’s Centre chairman Michael Page OAM in one of the two Willys jeeps at the 2023 Anzac Day Parade in Sale.

Local schools were well represented, with students from Gippsland Grammar, Sale College, Guthridge Primary School and Catholic College Sale placing wreaths before the Cenotaph, honouring and remembering those who gave their lives for their country.

Sale Police, SES, Air Force and Army cadets, Scouts, Girl Guides and local veterans were among the many who placed wreaths at the base of the Cenotaph on Tuesday, vibrant flowers now lining the empty stone tomb.

Local Royal Australian Air Force cadet corporal.

Despite the fallings of a few cadets on parade, a common consequence for any individual, cadet, officer or non-commissioned officer, Sale Anzac Day commemorations, organised by a new board in 2023, were successful in achieving their purpose.

“The purpose is that it’s a commemoration of Anzac Day, and it’s also a commemoration of the district’s war dead and the national war dead,” Mr Jackson said.

“That is the focus, and the focus need not be taken away from that essential core reason why we are all there.

“We made a commitment to those people on the Cenotaph that we would remember them, and we have done that, and we will continue to do that.”