The ashes of Allan Windham Conway, known as Ace from his days in the RAAF, were among those of 33 servicemen scattered on the waves by local rowers for burial at sea.

It was exactly as he would have wanted it, Mr Conway's daughter Sue Casey told AAP.

It was an especially poignant goodbye for many in the RSL, with Mr Conway seen as the man who transformed the Currumbin ceremony from a small club car park gathering, to one of the largest and most moving in the country.

"He would never have wanted anything else. He actually ran the Anzac Day ceremony for a lot of years and it was the proudest day of the year for him," Sue said.

"He lived for it."

Mr Conway proudly talked of taking the event attended by just 64 people in 1982 to a day honoured by generations of Gold Coasters and beamed around the country.

"He grew it. He started the flyovers and when they moved it to Elephant Rock, it was to honour those who fought in Gallipoli," Sue said.

"This is his dream come to life."

As the first rays of light dawned, the service began with a lone piper atop the rock where Australian and New Zealand flags flew at half mast.

As moving notes of Amazing Grace sounded over the waves, lifesavers raised oars as the ashes were put to rest.

In that moment, with tears flowing down her cheeks and she and thousands of people paid tribute to the Anzacs, Sue knew Ace was there in spirit.

"He would be so proud," she said.

"He was a true Anzac."

Australian Associated Press