But today in the dusky quiet of the morning the cars rolled in one after the other delivering men, women and children - 150 of them they estimate - who slowly walked toward the light that was the scene of the Anzac ceremony today.

Central to that light is the pine, not the native Turkish pine (Pinus brutia), but the solitary nature of its place near the Wombat Memorial Hall is reminiscent of a lone pine at Gallipoli - scene of a bloody battle on August 6, 1915 where more than 2000 Australians died defending the main Turkish trench.

Beneath the symbolic pine is a stone of remembrance and this is where the gaze of those assembled fell as Neil Berry from the Wombat Progress Association led proceedings.

Hymns and prayers paved the way to the wreath laying ceremony - prominent among the families there was the name Prothero - representing the five sons and one son-in-law  of Bridget Prothero of Wombat, all who served in campaigns in Egypt, Gallipoli, France and Belgium with one son, William, paying the supreme sacrifice.