There were close to 300 returned personnel at the service and Scouts, Cubs, Guides Brownies, school children and civilians attending the service lifted the number by another 500. Port Macquarie Band preceded the marching men and another musical adjunct to the impressive ceremony was the High School choir, singing 'Land of Mine.'

On the official dais with the president of the R.S.L. (Digger Jack Steep) were Diggers A. G. Munro, E. Williams and Les Russell all of whom participated in the commemoration; the secretary of the sub-branch, Digger R. D. Bawden, and the official guest, the Revd. P. E. Lucock, M.P. It was a sparkling day, but the out of season summer heat took toll among veterans participating.

Wreaths were laid by Digger Harry Hodgson for the sub-branch; Ald. Crisp, for the council; John Campbell and Anne Stewart, for Legacy; Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Hughes, for the R.S.L. Auxiliary; Miss Manchester, for the ex-servicewomen; Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Young. Matron Bailey, for Torch-bearers; Mrs. Keena (90 years of age) and Mrs. Nelson, for Red Cross; Mrs. Row, for Quota; representatives of the High School, Primary School, and St. Joseph's Convent School; Lieut. Ross Keena, from Vietnam; Mr. Gordon Bowie, for the Hyde family; and a number of private wreaths were also placed on the Monument.

At the conclusion  Digger A. G. Munro made an appeal on behalf of the R.S.L. sub-branch for donations that would assist them in continuing - as they had done for the past 15 months - to send parcels to men in Vietnam. The collection at the service amounted to $58.14 and later the Diggers passed the hat around among themselves at the dinner and this boosted the parcels-for-Vietnam result to $120.

One hundred and twenty-odd returned servicemen marched from the R.S.L. Club to the Soldiers’ Memorial for the Dawn Ceremony at 5.30am, and about fifty friends and relatives joined them.

“In freedom's cause, those who gave their all that we might be free, acted with a deep love for their home, their family, and their country”, said Archdeacon A. E. Warr in a brief address.

The Anzac Dedication was read by Digger Harold Rosenbaum. Sub-branch president Digger Jack Steep placed the wreath on the memorial; Digger Cec. Johnson was in charge of the parade, which was led by the sub-branch secretary, Digger "Dick" Bawden. Buglers Jack Pike and Les Boston sounded "Last Post” and Reveille.

With their new kitchen in use for the first time members of the R.S.L. Auxiliary excelled all previous efforts when they served a delightful hot meal to 360 odd Diggers at the annual dinner which followed the commemoration.

In his toast to “The Day We Celebrate” Digger Dr. V. Hegarty said it was the first time he had had the pleasure of welcoming women at the dinner. “They are as much diggers as any of us,” he said… A later toast to the Auxiliary was enthusiastically honoured.