Anzac Day 2026: Teary reflections as thousands line the street to honour the Anzac spirit

For Barry Wilkins, Anzac Day 2026 is the culmination of a family military history 60 years in the making.

Carrying medals and photos of his father Frank, who served on HMAS Australia in World War II, Barry wanted to honour his dad and all those he served with.

“He and I marched together in 1966,” Mr Wilkins told AAP while marching through central Sydney.

“I wanted to do it on the 50th anniversary but I didn’t get to make it, so 60th anniversary I wanted to do this for dad.”

Thousands of onlookers lined Elizabeth Street to cheer and pay their respects to diggers past and present in glorious sunshine.

While the past is normally front of mind on Anzac Day, plenty wanted those commemorating to think to the present as well.

Those whose military careers were cut short against their will should also be front of mind, RSL NSW acting president Vince Williams told AAP.

“When you’ve been in a career where life is organised for you ? when you transition out, you may not be able to afford to live in the area which was your last posting location,” he said.

Earlier, the sombre atmosphere of the dawn service was broken by a small but vocal interjection of booing that greeted the acknowledgement of Country by Pastor and Uncle Ray Minniecon. After those disturbing the peace were quieted and the acknowledgement concluded, a chorus of applause and cheering rang for an extended period.

“We do have laws to try and deter people from this but it seems like these people still want to be lawless,” Uncle Minniecon said after the ceremony.

“They just need to realise their place in this country.”

Police confirmed a 24-year-old man was arrested for “an alleged act of nuisance” during the service and said several others were moved on.

Retired brigadier Williams had strong words for those who sought to disrupt the proceedings.

“I’m pretty convinced that none of the bunch of louts who were booing have ever done anything constructive for our nation,” he said.

Premier Chris Minns condemned the booers but commended the actions of those who celebrated Uncle Minniecon’s contribution.

“Whilst I’ve never heard booing like that at a dawn service, I’ve also never heard a crowd spontaneously applaud as they did,” the premier said in a statement.

With thoughts far from the controversy, those attending the march felt the full weight of what Anzac Day represents.

Vietnam veteran Alan Hastie and his wife Marlene, from Albury in southern NSW, say they’ve been to dozens of marches but they still have the power to draw emotion.

“I’m getting a bit teary now as it is,” Mr Hastie told AAP.

For others, like war widow Fran Brock, seeing so many young people both marching and spectating provided a sense of optimism for the future.

“It’s brilliant to see our young ones supporting now, it’s fabulous,” Ms Brock said.

A commemoration service will be held at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park this afternoon before a sunset service at the Cenotaph.

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