ANZAC Day commemorations draw crowds across Queensland
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People line to lay wreaths at the Shrine of Remembrance in Brisbane. (ABC News: Tim Swanston)
Thousands of people have gathered at dawn services across Queensland to pay their respects to service men and women and mark the 103rd anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli.
In Brisbane, empty spots surrounding Anzac Square between Ann and Adelaide Streets started filling about 3:00am despite the wet weather.
Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey paid special tribute to Queenslanders in his address.
"The men who came to know themselves as Anzacs fought with intensity and courage," he said.
He also honoured families who had lost loved ones across the country.
"The widows and orphans of the war. The mothers and fathers who lost their sons, we acknowledge the holes torn in the fabric of the nation's families — a loss that's still felt today," he said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined the Governor and other dignitaries and laid wreaths at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Crowds will the city's streets later this morning to watch the annual Anzac parade.
In north Queensland, thousands gathered to pay their respects in Townsville.
Wing Commander of the Townsville RAAF Base Phil Godfrey said the bravery and sacrifice of troops were remembered today.
"We treasure the memories of sons and daughters from our city who travelled to fight on the other side of the world," he said.
"The original 1,000 farewelled at the beginning of the war were reinforced by nearly 50 percent of all Townsville's men between the ages of 18 and 44 by the end of hostilities.
"Our bond with them remains strong."
Later today more than 4,000 people will join Townsville's annual parade, including 98-year-old World War II veteran Arnold Forrester, one of the surviving members of the 39th Battalion which was the first on the Kokoda Track.
Topics: anzac-day, history, world-war-2, world-war-1, defence-forces, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, townsville-4810, currumbin-4223
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