Tamworth man Adam Ryan was hosting his father and Vietnam veteran, Ron, in town. He said today is more important than Christmas for his family.

“Anzac Day is the day we spend all together as a family,” Adam said.

It’s no wonder he holds the day in such high regard, with his father serving in Vietnam and his grandfather in World War II.

Adam has been attending Anzac services for most of his life and he said the respect for service people has grown markedly over recent years.

“When I was 18 it was really only veterans that used to go,” he said.

“Now, I’ve got 10 mates they’re all coming down today to have a beer with my dad. It’s really great to see that.”

Ron calls Camden home but he was very impressed with Tamworth’s dawn service.

“I thought it was fantastic, it was very well done,” he said.

“I’ve noticed over the last few years, Australians have been embracing Anzac Day more and more.

“Ten years ago, the crowds at dawn service would’ve been half what they are now.”

More than just the overall turnout, Ron was particularly moved by the growing number of young children attending services around the country.

“At the dawn service [on the south coast], there was a young lady with a baby in a pram,” Ron remembered.

“She was on her own and the baby started to cry and she went to leave.

“I stopped her and said ‘no one is going to object to your baby crying, we think it’s fantastic that you’ve gone through all of this effort to come’.”