A 100-year-old veteran military nurse who is among seven Anzac's of the Year will help lead the Perth Centenary of Anzac march on Saturday.
Anne Leech's award was bestowed by Graham Edwards, State President of the Returned and Services League, at a sunset service at King's Park on Thursday.
Her citation reads: "In recognition of her exceptional courage and devotion to victims of armed conflicts or natural disasters and her pioneering spirit in the areas of public health and nursing education."
Ms Leech, a World War II military nurse, and 97-year-old "JJ" Wade, former "Rat of Tobruk" and president of the 2/28th Infantry Battalion Association will head some 7000 serving defence force personnel, veterans and community groups.
The RSL believes the number of veterans marching could easily swell, given the poignancy of the centenary event.
"We really won't know until the day how many extra veterans may decide to join in the parade – but all are welcome," a RSL spokesman said.
Some 40 military jeeps will ferry older veterans with most of the World War II veterans now in their late 80s. The thinning ranks, however, are being filled by new generations who have served around the world including in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The march will include military bands, banner parties, serving Australian Defence Force members, veterans representing the three services, and many uniformed community groups. Veterans of overseas defence forces will also march.
There will be fly-pasts by the Royal Australian Air Force at the Dawn Service at 6.18am and over the Supreme Court Gardens at 11am.
The RSL spokesperson encouraged as many people and families as possible to attend at least one of the key events on Saturday.
"The centenary is a once in a lifetime event; it's both a celebration of loss and arguably the event that heralded the birth of our national identity and values.
"This will become one of those events that you remember where you were for the rest of your life," he said.
The spokesman said that the RSL was expecting huge crowds at the dawn service, beginning at 5.50am in King's Park and lining the city streets for the main march that begins at 9.30am from the intersection of St George's Terrace and William Street.
The column will march along St Georges Terrace to the Supreme Court Gardens and the parade is expected to last an hour.
In previous years there have been some 40,000 people at the dawn service and estimates of 50,000 and more for the march.
"These numbers could easily be eclipsed on Saturday - we're planning for some 30,000 more at the dawn service alone. It's not possible to estimate just how many people and families will attend the parade
"We have worked closely with the Public Transport Authority to ensure that people can get to the events easily and safely," the RSL spokesman said.
The Governor of WA, Kerry Sanderson, will be on the dais to take the parade salute.
A commemorative service will follow in the Supreme Court Gardens that will feature the Salvation Army Fortress Band and a 100-strong choir.
Award winning singer/songwriter Kelly Newton-Wordsworth will perform her original song Lest We Forget.
A highlight of the commemorative service will be the release of 1023 red helium balloons to honour the West Australians who died at Gallipoli.
Elsewhere in the state, Albany's celebrations will begin with its traditional dawn service at the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial on Mt Clarence.
Former chief of the ADF, the recently knighted Sir Angus Houston, will take the salute that will also be highlighted by a flyover from the RAAF's aerobatic display team, the "Roulettes".
A spokesperson for the Albany RSL said that they were expecting big crowds, given its role as the port of embarkation for many West Australian soldiers who served at Gallipoli.
Albany's National Anzac Centre, opened in November to mark the centenary of the departure of the first World War I troop convoy, was also expecting to be a key experience for many visitors.
Bunbury RSL will hold its dawn service at the Anzac Park Memorial between 5.30-6.30am.
Its main march will begin with veterans forming up at 10.45am before the march down Spencer Street via Stirling Street to Blair Street for a memorial service.
A Geraldton RSL spokesman said that Saturday's official ceremonies would start at 5.30am.
"The city's veterans will march down Chapman Road with one of only two Legacy Torches in WA. The flame will be used to light a specially-made stainless steel cauldron, which will burn throughout the day," he said.
"The Geraldton dawn service is always a true ANZAC event with former NZ Army Regimental Sergeant Major, Warren Nathan, acting as co-host and parade marshal," the spokesman said.
The dawn service starts at 6am while veterans step off for the main march at 10.45am.
Where: Learn what's happing in your suburb of town around WA here.
Free public transport: How to get to events around Perth for free.
Other events and parking: What should you see and where can you park?
City of Perth events: Celebrations continue through the weekend. See the schedule.
Learn: All you need to know about the history of Anzac Day here.
Find a marcher: Work out where in the march they are here, if you have a friend or relative in the parade.
More Anzac Day questions? All you need to know, here.
Shopping hours: All general retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area will be closed on Anzac Day this Saturday. The only stores allowed to open on this day are those that have applied for and been issued with Small or Special Retail Shop Certificates.
Special retail shops include emergency, convenience or recreational goods and include, among others: pharmacies; garden nurseries; hardware and home improvement shops; newsagencies and bookshops; video shops; art and craft shops; souvenir and duty free shops; shops at sports venues; boating shops; motor vehicle spare parts shops; and shops at international standard hotels.
Restaurants, cafés and take away food shops are free to trade at any time, including on Anzac Day.
In the metropolitan area, Sunday trading for general retail shops will be 11am to 5pm as normal and trading on the public holiday Monday has been extended from 8am to 6pm.
For regional areas, trading hours may vary so businesses and consumers are advised to contact their local councils.
