Close to 2000 people - young and old, families, current and former service men and women - attended the ceremony, hosted by the Nelson Bay RSL Sub-Branch, on a glorious morning bathed in sunshine.

It was a far cry from 2020 Anzac Day, when services around the country were cancelled due to the global pandemic and replaced by individual and street ceremonies at the end of driveways and balconies.

The branch's vice-president Tom Lupton, a Vietnam veteran, provided a particularly moving address, pointing out the fears and challenges imposed on people by COVID-19.

"It has been a tough 12 months and while we did have to cancel this year's dawn service and march, we are heartened by the magnificent turn out to our morning service," Mr Lupton said.

"This is a great reminder that our servicemen and women, those who have gone before us and those who are serving today, are truly valued in this community."

In his address to the gathering, Group Captain Jason Easthope, Chief of Staff Air Combat Group at RAAF Base Williamtown, gave an historic account of the original Anzacs and the sacrifices the Diggers made to protect the freedoms of all Australians and New Zealanders.

The prayer was conducted by RAAF Base Williamtown chaplain Gabriel Ezenwa before an eerie silence took over the crowd for The Ode, The Last Post and Reveille plus a stirring rendition of the national anthems of both Australia and New Zealand.

The minute's silence was cracked by the appearance of a F-35A Lightning II fighter jet from RAAF Base Williamtown, arriving on time, which received a rousing applause from an appreciative gathering who had packed in and occupied every vantage point available in Apex Park.

The wreath laying ceremony featured a number of the Tomaree Peninsula schools, in addition to the traditional RSL affiliates, local politicians, community groups and individuals.

A notable figure at this year's service was community worker Meagan Harding, who was dressed in a World War I nurses uniform, complete with the buttons from an original WWI uniform, made by friend Joanne Cook.

"I wanted to honour the women and nurses who served in World War I and all other conflicts," she said.

The Nelson Bay RSL Ladies Auxiliary also had made specially designed poppy monuments, featuring original buttons from the battle jackets of nurses.

While many of the returned and present service men and women moved on to Wests Diggers for lunch, others headed for the Shoal Bay Country Club to take part in some traditional two-up.

While the sub-branch was restricted from holding a dawn service early on Sunday due to COVID-19 requirements, up to 150 people was reported to have turned out to the Apex Park memorial for an unofficial service.

In a Light Up The Dawn type of service, residents and visitors to the area, including a large contingent in the area for Sail Port Stephens, listened to the dawn service in Canberra and observed minute's silence.

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