Around 16 ex-servicemen attended the annual ceremony on February 14 and participated in a short march through Newman Park to the memorial.

Among them was the president of the National Servicemen's Association of Australia Mid State Sub-branch, James Dietrich.

"Next year will definitely be the last one that we will have the bands and the Kinross Wolaroi air cadets... It'll be the last time that we have that big type of [commemoration for National Service Day]," Mr Dietrich said.

"It's mainly due to the age of everyone... The problem is that a lot of the ones that were called up in the 50s are well into their 80s [now] and next year all of the National Servicemen will be in their 70s.

"And so it will be 50 years since 1972 [which was when] the last national serviceman was called up.

"We had a good turn out [on Sunday]," Mr Dietrich added. "We had probably close to 80 people there in total."

After National Service was reintroduced by Prime Minister Robert Menzies in 1964 in response to "aggressive Communism" developments in Asia, Mr Dietrich was among the first young men to receive the "call up" on June 30, 1965.

From 1965 to 1972, over 15,300 national servicemen served in the Vietnam War, with 200 killed and 1,279 wounded.

Between 1965 and December 1972 over 800,000 men registered for National Service, according to the National Archives of Australia.

"Some 63,000 were conscripted and over 19,000 served in Vietnam. Although registration was compulsory a process of selection by ballot determined who would be called up. Two ballots were conducted each year," its records said.

Between 1951 and 1972 more than 280,00 national servicemen served.

Those who completed their obligations were entitled for the for the Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal.

As National Service Day approaches its 50^th commemoration, Orange ex-servicemen like Mr Dietrich expect 2022 will be a difficult day for many local veterans.

"2022 will definitely be the last full parade for memorial day," he said. "It'll be a sad ending because it's not something we've done lightly. It's just age is catching up [with us]."