Across Maitland, the Hunter and Australia the Last Post will sound, in particular to mark 100 years since the Battle of Pozieres and the Battle of Fromelles. 

But Maitland RSL Sub-branch president Eric Bell said the line he would be taking this year would steer away from particular battles and statistics.

Instead of focusing on the scope of death he’ll remind Australians of the reasons the Anzacs enlisted, fought and died.

“The important things are the principals they fought for,” he said.

“Mateship, integrity, standing up for one another and your country, freedom for education and freedom of speech.”

Mr Bell said that as the western world grapples with terrorism and housing millions of displaced people, the ideals of the Anzac sacrifice had become more significant.

“We see countries where those freedoms aren’t given to people,” he said.

“We see new waves of terror, people terrorised by their governments.”

Mr Bell said the Anzac legend should inspire vigilance and defense of freedom in the face of a seemingly unstable world.

“[In Western nations] our rights are taken away under the name of protecting against terrorism,” he said.

“By remembering the Anzacs we need to get back to the basics, be there for each other.

“We need to work to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

A century after World War I, Mr Bell said it was important to remember, behind the legacy, the men who fought were real and the cause they died for was real as well.

The Anzac Day dawn service will be held on Monday at 5.20am. The procession will form up opposite the WW1 Memorial in the Elgin Street south car park and march to Maitland Park.

For more information: maitlandrsl.net.au