Thousands of people gathered at the Maitland and the East Maitland war memorials at 5.30am to pay their respects to service men and women.
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It was the first COVID restriction free Anzac Day since 2019, and Maitland RSL Sub-Branch president Fred Goode said there were about 3000 people in attendance at the Maitland Park service.
"It was an excellent roll-up, the best in many, many years," Mr Goode said.
The crowd stretched right around the Maitland War Memorial, standing up to five people deep and the weather stayed clear.
Mr Goode said the large crowd was great to see.
"It's good to see people coming back out now that COVID and lockdown is virtually finished, coming back to pay their respects and remember those that served," he said.
"They paid the supreme sacrifice."
The morning Anzac Day services around Maitland are:
Morpeth
Morpeth Anzac Day Committee will host a morning march through Swan Street, starting at 10.40am.
Those wishing to march should form up at Campbell's Store at 10.15am.
The march will be followed by a service at Morpeth Cenotaph at 11am, which is expected to end at about 12pm.
Maitland
A morning march will form up at 10.20am at the corner of Church Street and Caroline Place (at the Fire and Rescue NSW Station), and start marching towards Maitland Park at 10.30am.
The morning service will start at about 11am at the Maitland Park Cenotaph.
East Maitland
The morning march will begin at 9am at the corners of New England Highway and High Street, before the morning service at 9.30am at the Cenotaph. Form up at 8.30am.
Serving members, veterans, scouts and guides groups, schools and community groups will be participating in the march.
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