Anzac Day: Thousands honour diggers at dawn services across Queensland (ABC)

Thousands of people have attended dawn services across Queensland as part of more than 260 events across the state commemorating Anzac Day.

More than 20,000 people turned out for the dawn service at Anzac Square in Brisbane's CBD.

Public transport was brought on earlier in Brisbane this year to help manage the record crowds.

It was the last Anzac Day dawn service officiated by Governor Penny Wensley before she ends her term this year.

Ms Wensley told the service of the importance of remembering those who put their lives on the line to defend the country.

She said it was also important to honour those who care for the men who returned home scarred from war and the families of the fallen.

"At this service and in the many other commemorations being held today, we remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and we remember those who came home, many who carry, or will carry the scars of battle for a lifetime," she said.

"We remember not only our own country men and women, but all gallant warriors, particularly our New Zealand comrades who form part of the original Anzac force, which landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, 99 years ago."

Ms Wensley also spoke about the impact of war.

"I'm especially concerned by the number of veterans and ADF members suffering from post traumatic stress disorder," she said.

Follow the day's events in our live blog.

Avenue of Honour service on 'sacred ground'

In far north Queensland, hundreds of people have attended the first dawn service at the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour at Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands, west of Cairns.

The memorial, which opened last year, was established by the parents of Ben Chuck, who was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010.

His father, Gordon Chuck, says the lakeside memorial is in a place his son loved and provides the perfect setting for reflection.

"It's like sacred ground, it's like an outdoor cathedral - it just has such power and strength," he said.

"It's really making its mark as something that the nation can be very proud of."

Mr Chuck says it is a time to reflect on his son's sacrifice.

"A young man who followed the directions of his career and his nation and went to war and lost his life in the pursuit of those things he believed in," he said.

In Cairns, dawn service organisers said the wet weather in the city pushed numbers down on last year.

The Cairns Esplanade was a sea of umbrellas, with more than 1,000 people braving soggy conditions to attend the dawn service under the palm trees at the local cenotaph.

Cairns RSL sub-branch vice-president Buster Todd says it was a pleasing turn-out.

"Considering the weather, it was an excellent service and it was great to see everybody turn up and lots of kids and parents out," he said.

'Never be right our mates are gone'

Record crowds in Townsville in north Queensland have paid their respects at the city's Anzac Day dawn service.

Community organisations and leaders marched a path lined by children to the cenotaph to lay wreaths.

Reverend Mick Taylor asked the crowd to remember those who died at Gallipoli 100 years ago and not forget those who have died since.

"Lord God we know it will never be all right that our mates are gone," he said.

The bugler stood with the sun rising behind him, with the light revealing the thousands of people who packed the park and surrounding streets.

Townsville's 3rd Brigade Commander Brigadier Roger Noble marked the significance of the Gallipoli beach landing.

"The first boots on that beach were Queensland boots," he said.

Many are also attending a gunfire breakfast, followed by the march later today.

Anzac Day parades

Later this morning, thousands are expected across the state to watch traditional Anzac Day parades.

The biggest turnout is expected in Brisbane, where 141 units made up of returned servicemen and current serving military personnel will march through the CBD at 10:00am (AEST).

Ms Wensley will take the salute and address the parade assembly, the last time she will do so as outgoing governor.

Vehicles and buses will take the dwindling number of World War II veterans - the youngest of whom is now 78.

Five F/A-18F Super Hornets have been engaged to conduct flypasts not only of the Brisbane parade, but also numerous other events being held around the state.

The first flypast is at Nanango in Queensland's South Burnett at 9:20am

The Queensland branch of the RSL is expecting large numbers of people to attend Anzac Day activities in metropolitan and country areas.

State president Terry Meehan says there is renewed interest, particularly among the young.

"I think we went through that hiatus of about 20 years post-Vietnam where we didn't have people in conflict," he said.

"Now we've had over 60,000 serving in combat and hundreds of thousands support those 60,000.

"There's been a real resurgence of interest and as I say social media's played a large part, as well as the visual media."

Townsville feels 'close connection' with Anzac Day

The president of the Townsville RSL, Bill Whitburn, says today's commemorations will also be a chance to reflect on those still involved in war.

Mr Whitburn says it will be an emotional day for local troops that have recently come back from Afghanistan.

"We've got some soldiers that have recently returned, which is fantastic news," he said.

"They're home with their families, out of harm's way, and it gives them the opportunity to also march with their comrades in arms."

Mr Whitburn says Townsville residents feel a close connection with the Anzac Day commemorations.

He says the dawn service gets bigger each year.

"Being a garrison city, it really is an enthusiastic parade for everyone," he said.

"It gives us the opportunity to thank those men and women who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice over the years."

The principal of Cathedral School in Townsville, Ian Gamack, says it is important for students to learn about the Anzac tradition.

"They're very much aware that wars are not just a thing of the past, that they are something that's still occurring now and that they do value the opportunity to be involved in the day," he said.

Gold Coast commemorations

On the Gold Coast, police will march behind diggers during the Anzac Day Parade at Southport.

Senior police say the honour coincides with the commemoration of 150 years of policing in Queensland.

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Des Lacy says it is a privilege to be marching with true heroes like diggers and members of the Australian Defence Force.

"This is our opportunity to recognise those men and women who have given their lives to community safety and that's our mantra of course - community safety," he said.

"These people have laid down their lives to make our community safe."

The Anzac Day March at Southport will take place at 8:30am and will travel along Scarborough Street, finishing up at Anzac Park with a ceremony.

There will also be a beachfront parade at Surfers Paradise at noon.

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