A RECORD crowd turned out to Anzac Day services across Port Stephens this year proving the Anzac spirit is still alive and well 100 years on.
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Last Saturday's weather could not have been more perfect for the Anzac centenary commemorations, which made a nice change from what Port residents had weathered just days earlier.
Nelson Bay posted its greatest ever dawn service turnout with 10,000 people estimated to have attended.
Attendees squeezed into Apex Park and spilled out into Victoria Parade, up on the bridge and down to d'Albora Marinas.
They were rewarded with a solemn and dignified service and a stunning sunrise over the Bay.
"Everyone is saying that it was the biggest crowd they've ever seen," Nelson Bay RSL Sub-Branch secretary Russell Durrant said.
"There were big crowds at the dawn service, in the march and lining the streets.
"Everyone got behind us, which was great, especially considering the Monday and Tuesday morning a lot of people had."
Mr Durrant said about 2am sub-branch members were organising generators to power the sound system and lights for Saturday's dawn service.
However, the back-up measures were not needed with the power to Nelson Bay's CBD restored just in time for the service.
Despite the main road heading into Clarence Town being cut off due to last Monday's storm, about 1000 people still made the effort to turn out to the town's dawn service.
Hundreds more people were reported to have attended services at Medowie, Seaham, Tanilba Bay and Raymond Terrace.
The turnout was reflective of the Anzac spirit, which was born at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.
The record crowd numbers came despite many residents and businesses having no power and sustaining major damage to property after the storm.