He was spot on.

Kiama’s main street was bustling with people, keen to pay their respects at the ANZAC Day march and ceremony.

Kiama’s Margaret Carmichael was wearing her father’s World War I medals at the local service.

Though her father died at 93, the war impacted him greatly.

“He was very scarred,” Mrs Carmichael said.

“He never spoke about the war, except to tell us the man beside him in the trenches had his head blown to pieces.”

The early risers were at Kiama lighthouse before dawn cracked at 5am.

By all reports it was a beautiful ceremony, with light horsemen and the lighthouse lit up to mark the ANZAC centenary.

Hundreds upon hundreds of people braved frosty conditions to rise for the ANZAC Day dawn service at Gerringong, held on the headland near the cemetery.

Streets were packed with cars parked as close as they could get to the special service which started at 6am.

After wreaths were laid at the stone memorial, local kids were given the chance to place poppies on the memorial, as much a part of the ceremony as the veterans who served Australia in years gone past.

At Gerroa Fisherman’s Club, the traditional service was held at 7.30am, accompanied by a Salvation Army brass band. 

Vietnam air force veteran John Zarb attended with his wife, Veronica.

He doesn’t get out much these days, but he does make a point of commemorating ANZAC Day.

He will head to Kiama for a service later in the morning.

Bill Popple, who served with the navy in New Guinea, was one of the oldest veterans at the Gerroa service.

“I’m the only one here with King George VI on my medals,” Mr Popple said.

“It makes me realise I’m really old. It’s a miracle I’m alive.”

Next, thousands are expected to head to Kiama for the ANZAC Day march, which begins at 10.20am.