Driveways were lit with candles as people across Ballarat went outside to pay their respects to the Anzacs, on a morning unlike any other.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The haunting communal pause at Anzac Day ceremonies, with thousands of people crowding cenotaphs, was replaced with individual memorials, as families stood together to listen to the wireless and reflect.
Dennis Hawkes, at Golden Point, played the Last Post and the Reveille as the sky slowly turned purple behind Mount Warrenheip.
With medals pinned to his chest, it was a sombre moment when he finished.
"That's it," he said.
"Lest we forget."
On Lyons Street South, three families stood at opposite corners holding candles, appropriately distanced.
After a moment with bagpipes playing from a wireless speaker, they said hello.
Reports of buglers were heard from as far away as Delacombe as more musicians joined in.
In Ballan, Graeme Dodds' daughter Peyton would have been part of the Melton cenotaph guard.
She was able to dress in her full uniform to stand to attention in her driveway.
"During these times, you don't see people as much, but it helped me to feel a bit of community sense again," she said.
"Everyone will always come together during hard times for these sorts of events.
Mr Dodds said he would be interested to see if it would be repeated next year, for people would couldn't get to a traditional dawn ceremony.
"We live in a small street, in a small town, and there was easily 10 or 12 people you could see standing at the end of their driveways," he said.
"One person had their car radio on loud enough so everyone could hear.
"It was actually nice, it was quiet, people were obviously very respectful.
"You got a sense if it was happening in our street, it was happening everywhere."
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
