The poem, written by Canobolas Rural Technology High School student Matthew Toia and read by Orange High School's Connor Swords, combined with the still morning air transported them to the horror of the landings.

"Troops clambering up the cliff side, no place to run, no place to hide," he said.

"Shells raining over their heads, many of the young men were already dead."

The rendition followed a veterans' march led by Orange High School students Chloe Barrett and Tom Milson with the flame of remembrance and a didgeridoo performance from Ron Wardrop.

Orange RSL sub-branch junior vice-president Graeme Scott said Australians had a responsibility to support family who had lost a loved one and dedicate themselves to soldiers' ideals.

"Let us give our utmost to make the world what they would have wished it to be, a better, happier place for all its people through whatever means are open to us," he said.

The formal parts of the service were covered by Reverend Anne Neville, who delivered the Lord's Prayer and the Benediction, and mayor John Davis, who recited the Ode of Remembrance.

The Orange Male Voice Choir added their voices, performing Abide With Me and the Australian and New Zealand national anthems, while bugler Derek Johns performed The Last Post and The Reveille and Don Peck played Flowers of the Forest on the bagpipes.

Anaiwan man and former army reservist Warren Woods said the addition of the indigenous plaque to the cenotaph was a step in the right direction and described the didgeridoo performance as "very, very emotional".

"In the 1900s from the Boer War to the Second World War, no one was recognised and it's just good to get one step at a time," he said.

Beau and Katie Baddock brought their sons Harrison, 4, and Oliver, 3, to the ceremony.

"Harry was talking about it from the TV and after day care so we thought we'd bring them down and give them a look," Mr Baddock said.

"It was brilliant and the fact that everybody was so quiet was a great show of respect."

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au