MORE than 1000 people, many in young family groups, lined the main street of Murwillumbah yesterday for the first Anzac Day march since the death in Afghanistan of one of the town's own sons, Nathan Bewes.

Most then attended a memorial service at the nearby cenotaph where the Bewes family laid the first of more than a dozen wreaths to remember fallen soldiers.

Murwillumbah RSL Sub-branch president Derek Sims told the crowd the 96th Anzac Day was one “which this town has more reason to take to heart than others” following the death of Private Bewes, 23, a former Murwillumbah Army cadet who was killed by a hidden bomb in Afghanistan on July 9 last year.

“Nathan was proud to be a Digger, but he was also a loving partner, son and brother,” Mr Sims said.

Pte Bewes' father, Gary, mother Kay and sister Stephanie together laid the first wreath at the cenotaph.

Their wreath was followed by others offered in remembrance of fallen soldiers by local veterans, public officials, private individuals and a wide range of local schools.

Students represented most local schools for the march down the town's main street at 10.30am, which was led by older Diggers in mostly veteran cars, followed by younger members of the Murwill-umbah RSL Sub-branch and family members of fallen soldiers.

Earlier, returned Diggers held a dawn service, marching from the Westpac Bank to the cenotaph at 5.20am, with the Murwillumbah Services Club hosting a free breakfast for veterans and children under 12 from 6am.

Wollumbin High School students Keegan Craven and Elise Daley led the Murwillumbah Anzac Day service assisted by other senior students as part of a local tradition in which students from local high schools take it in turns to conduct the event.

Murwillumbah High School student Cody Anderson, 14, played the bugle for the Last Post and Reveille, and the Philharmonic Singers sang hymns.