ONE day of commemorations was never going to be enough this year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A special event marking the 100th anniversary of World War I will be held at Speers Point Park this Sunday.
The once-in-a-generation community event has been designed for families.
The focus will be on commemorating the sacrifices of our Anzac forefathers, Toronto RSL Sub-branch president, Ron Mitcherson, said.
"I really think it will be overwhelming," he said.
It will feature military vehicle and aerial displays, multi-media presentations, children's activities, and live entertainment.
The event will be staged by Lake Macquarie City Council and the Toronto RSL Sub-branch.
"Although there were wars before World War I, this is the one when the tradition of the Anzacs was actually started," Mr Mitcherson said.
New Zealanders will be an important part of the event.
A Maori contingent will sing the New Zealand anthem in English and Maori, and will perform a haka.
Mr Mitcherson said while Australians delight in defeating New Zealanders on the sporting fields, "we really do still hold them up dearly as our brothers".
That connection would be honoured on Sunday, he said.
The event has been made possible by $125,000 from the Australian government's Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program.
Member for Charlton, Pat Conroy, encouraged local families to take part.
"This will be a great commemoration of the sacrifices that local families made in World War I," he said.
"It's a way for us to pay tribute to those men and women, and it's important that the next generation is brought up to understand why we do that."
Mr Mitcherson said it was heartening to see the continued involvement of school children in Anzac Day events.
"Every Anzac Day we have senior school students do the recitals, prologues and prayers at our commemorations," he said.
"And each year they recite what Anzac Day means to them."
Mayor Jodie Harrison said several schools, community groups and historical organisations were contributing to activities and displays on Sunday.
The official ceremony will be at 10am.
Entertainment and activities will continue throughout the day.