The sun rises over tributes to war time sacrifice
As dawn broke on Saturday, thousands of people across the City gathered to pay respect to the fallen heroes who fought in wars over the past century.
The dawn service in Kalgoorlie was attended by close to 5000 people, all who bowed their heads in solemn prayer to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
With hundreds of red poppies lining memorials across town, and the bugle ringing out through the dawn light, men, woman and children of all ages and backgrounds joined together to hear stories of soldiers past and present.
Kalgoorlie RSL sub branch president Dave Elson welcomed the crowd and spoke of the Anzac spirit that was alive in the city.
"We remember the brave ones who did not return, whose remains are left in foreign lands," he said.
"We remember those who have returned with physical and psychological injuries, the ones who were not rightly recognised, and we remember those who are here today.
"We can only pray that our way of life, our freedoms so bravely fought by those we honour today, continues so that our Anzac tradition will be commemorated at its bicentennial in another 100 years."
A large number of New Zealanders attended the service, singing their national anthem and reciting their nation's Ode in traditional language.
Singing the Piko Nei Te Matenga, the haunting voices filled the air, and the Haka, led by Maihi Nikora, had a powerful impact on the crowd.
Shane Peruul attended the service to remember Thomas Bart, who served in the 42nd regiment of the 18th battalion, after his father passed on the soldier's medals.
"My father died and I never knew why he got these medals," he said, which prompted a two-year search to learn about Thomas.
"It was a beautiful service, I just think about how these young men - it wasn't our war - and they put their hands up to go, and lied about their age."
Ron and Alison Hunter braved the cold to remember Ron's grandfather, James William Henry Alfred Wilson, who fought in Gallipoli.
"It was emotional," Mr Hunter said.
"The numbers here today shows the importance of realising what these people did for us."
About 2000 people attended the dawn service in Boulder, with a similar crowd returning at the 9am commemorative service.
Mayor Ron Yuryevich commenced the proceedings, asking the crowd to remember the Boulder men who served in the Great War.
"Today, we as a nation reflect on a day when 100 years ago, more than 20,000 Australian and NZ troops… burst onto a remote shore … and into the history and legends of our country forever," he said.
"Let their sacrifice not be in vain and let their memory live on forever."
Boulder RSL sub branch president Jan Le Brun spoke about the nightmare experienced every day in the trenches.
"The boys that left thought they were off on a big adventure and told their families they would be home by Christmas," she said.
"But actually it turned into a nightmare … let's bear in mind what they went through and what we've learnt since then.
"Our lifestyle today couldn't be as good at is without their sacrifice."
Thousands more attended the final parade and service held at Kalgoorlie Racecourse at 11am.
Military historian and author Anne Skinner told the stories of some 3000 Goldfields people that died in World War I.
"They were our own first Anzacs … they came from all walks of life, just as you do, all you young men here today," she said.
"The first 198 of those men left on August 17, 1914, and thousands of Kalgoorlie-Boulder residents turned out to farewell them."
As the services died down and the crowds dispersed, the New Zealand, Australian and British flags continued to fly proudly in the wind, a symbol ensuring the Anzacs would never be forgotten in Kalgoorlie-Boulder 100 years on.
