Agathering of 400 and a flypast by a vintage aircraft honoured wartime service and sacrifice at Beachport on Anzac Day on Tuesday.
As a crimson sun arose over the distant Woakwine Range, lone bagpiper Janet Bellinger played traditional laments.
The dawn service was then held in the vicinity of the foreshore rotunda and flagpoles and was conducted by Paul Benson of the Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay.
The Beachport sub-branch of the RSL closed over 30 years ago and the Lions Club reinstated the dawn service in 2010.
Mr Benson explained the purpose and significance of Anzac Day.
Prayers were led by Anglican Church Lay Reader J.L (“Fred”) Smith and the national anthem was sung.
Students from Beachport Primary School and Kangaroo Inn Area School participated in the events by laying wreaths, extending a “Welcome to Country” and reading the Anzac Requiem.
Wreaths were also laid on behalf of a number of other organisations including Wattle Range Council, Beachport District Development Association, Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay, Beachport First Responders, Beachport police and the Beachport Surf Lifesaving Club.
Liberal Party member Mark Wheal laid the wreath on behalf of Member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
The other traditional marks of respect like the raising of flags, playing of the Last Post and a minute’s silence were observed.
The flag raising duties were undertaken by John Wright (New Zealand flag), Vietnam War veteran Bob Wakelin (Australian flag) and Jenny Bishop (Indigenous flag).
Among those in the crowd were other Vietnam veterans and uniformed members of the SA Ambulance Service Beachport First Responders.
With perfect timing, Southend pilot Kym Redman flew his biplane over the gathering at the end of the service and dipped the wings in salute.
Following the dawn service, there was a breakfast of bacon and eggs provided by the Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay.
Club president Keith Sneath said over 20 of his members were involved in staging the Anzac Day commemoration.
“We do this for the sake of the community and to remember those blokes who went away to war and never came back,” he said.
“We accepted donations for the cooked breakfast to go to childhood cancer research which is part of the nationwide Lions Big Breakfast initiative.”
There were a significant number of holidaymakers in attendance as Tuesday became the fourth and final day of an unofficial long weekend.
Around 15 contractors working on the $5m upgrade of the Beachport jetty were noticeable in their Hi-Viz safety gear.
They paid their respects before commencing their work duties.
Beachport resident Heather Burdon captured highlights of the service on video and shared them via social media.
“It was a moving ceremony and fabulous turn out by young and old,” Ms Burdon said.
“All showed their respect and sincere thanks, to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, so we could live in the fabulous and free Australia we do today.”
Beachport has a special place in Australian wartime history as it was the first place to suffer casualties during World War II.
It was 81 years last July since two sailors were killed while attempting to detonate an enemy mine which had floated into Rivoli Bay.
Prayers were offered for the repose of their souls.
