But on Saturday 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 made their way toward the light that was the scene of the Anzac ceremony.

Central to that light was the pine, not the native Turkish pine (Pinus brutia), but the solitary nature of its place near the Wombat Memorial Hall is reminiscent of the 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 was a stone of remembrance and this is where the gaze of those assembled fell as Neil Barry from the Wombat Progress Association led proceedings.

Hymns and prayers paved the way to the wreath laying ceremony. And prominent among the families present 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.

People travelled from as far away as Perth and the Sunshine Coast for Saturday’s village ceremony, and as they strolled down the hill led by the Murrumburrah Light Horse Troop, the tone was set for a day of reminiscing over coffee and Anzac biscuits and perhaps a few pints later on.

Photo galleries:

Dawn service at Wombat.

Dawn service at Young.