BEAUFORT

A CRISP clear Autumn morning greeted marchers in Beaufort as young and old joined in the commemoration of ANZAC day.

The Western Highway was brought to a standstill as hundreds - some carrying flags, others wearing medals - walked to the beat of the Beaufort Municipal Band towards the war memorial.

Hymns were sung, prayers read and speeches given before the crowd fell silent in respect during the last post.

RSL Beaufort president Denis Thurgood told the crowd it was important to not only remember those who died in war but the wounded as well.

"That basically includes everyone who went," he said.

"They may not have been recognised as being injured but they were."

Other speakers told of the importance of paying tribute to current serving members of the defence force.

Beaufort resident Rodney Hall commemorated the day and remembered his grandfather's service by wearing a replica of a World War 1 uniform with his horse Zoe.

His wife Kaye Hall, whose grandfather served in the 8th Light Horse Regiment, said it was important to remember the hardships he endured and be proud of what he did.

"I don't like war but we have to honour what they went to war for. Their courage and their sacrifice," she said.

Earlier in the day the chilly temperature did not deter around 100 people from attending an emotional dawn service.

Mr Thurgood said he was happy to see all the schoolchildren attending the ANZAC day service.

"It seems to get bigger and bigger every year," he said.

BALLAN

BLUE skies and sunshine attracted hundreds to Ballan for the annual Anzac Day memorial service this afternoon.

Mt Edgerton resident Graham Yelland stood with his wife Eva during the ceremony; he and his fathers' prisoner of war and national service medals pinned neatly on his shirt.

"My father fought in the Second World War and served just on five years," Mr Yelland said.

"He was captured in Crete...and was a Prisoner of War for four months."

"He (also) battled through the Middle East and Africa," he said.

Mr Yelland also served in Vietnam on National Service for almost four years and insists on attending the Ballan Anzac Day event each year.

About 100 people including retired servicemen and women, relatives of those who served in the war and community members attended the low key ceremony outside the Ballan Post Office on Old Melbourne Road.

Ballan RSL president Bob Nason said while it was important to remember those who had fought in past wars, the public needed to acknowledge Australia's defence service members who are serving in the Middle East.

"We can find members of the Australian Defence Force in Egypt, Afghanistan, South Sudan and even assisting in the search of the missing Malaysian aircraft," Mr Nason said.

Eva said it was good to see so many young people at the Ballan service.

"Young people need to remember the sacrifices these men and women made," she said.

"It's important for them to come every year."

CLUNES

Large crowds turned out for Clunes' Anzac Day ceremony in glorious sunshine. 

Students, Abby Coon and Liana Henderson-Drife presented talks on what ANZAC means to them at the commemorative service at the Clunes Town Hall.

Satch Niemiec said that animals served during many theaters of war, from horses used in charges and pack horses during the first world war, other animals including dogs and up to dolphins today.

CRESWICK

WHEN DRIVING down the dusty dirt road into the Creswick Cemetery, the air is crisp and silent.

Six people, including four Creswick RSL members, are huddled around the soldiers graves ahead of the annual Anzac Day wreath laying service at 9am.

A total of 27 ex-servicemen who fought in WW2 have been laid to rest at the Creswick Cemetery.

RSL president Alan Morris wants to make sure new generations don't forget the legacy of the men and women who served Australia.

"With any service that is held, they want to make sure the new generations don't forget what happened in the past and try and make sure it never happens again," Mr Morris said.

RSL Vice President Ken McMillan agreed.

"The sacrifice that these men made (are the reason why) we live today," Mr McMillan said.

Creswick mother and daughter Susan and Caelli Greenbank were the only members of the public at the cemetery service.

"This is the first time we knew it was happening and we thought we would have a look," Susan said.

While the pair don't know the people who served in WWI or WWII personally, Caelli has travelled the globe to visit the gravestones of those Creswick soldiers lost in battle.

Caelli has visited 17 Creswick ex-servicemen's graves in France, Egypt, Turkey and in England.

DAYLESFORD

As always, a very large crowd for Daylesford's dawn service and commemorative ceremonies for Anzac Day 2014.

Poems and odes were recited, wreaths were laid and school children stood alongside war veterans as equals - mate to mate.

Hundreds braved the very chilly start to the morning for the dawn service, as the haunting tune that is The Last Post echoed around Daylesford's memorials.

SNAKE VALLEY

IT WAS a great turnout at Snake Valley's restored memorial for a dawn service today.

Members of the community have dedicated more than 3000 hours over the past seven years to restoring the memorial from its dilapidated state, establishing the group Friends of the RSL for Carngham and Snake Valley. 

Work on the Avenue of Honour site included tidying up trees and clearing fallen branches. 

Group president Les Finch said it was a great turnout.

"We had about 180 people here, which was a great result," he said.

"It's more than double than what we thought."

TALBOT

A LARGE number of people gathered in Talbot today for an Anzac Day service, which began at the corner of Camp Street and Scandinavian Crescent at 9am, before winding its way to the Soldiers Memorial Park.

The service and wreath laying ceremony and refreshments were held at the ANA Hall

As a special addition this year, a dog which serviced in Afghanistan as a bomb detection dog led the march.