TWEED'S re-enactment of the Gallipoli landing on Saturday at Jack Evans Boat Harbour was much more than a dramatic performance.

It was a stark reminder of the way war changes lives.

The re-enactment 100 years since the bloody First World War battle in which about 9000 Australians lost their lives, reduced many of the spectators to tears.

It was estimated about 15,000 people attended the Tweed-Coolangatta re-enactment and Dawn Service - a record Anzac Day turnout.

RSL sub-branch secretary John Griffin said the moving performance lived up to his expectations.

"I just hope that they take away an appreciation of the horror of war, and that our young men were prepared to put their life on the line," Mr Griffin said.

"If we convey that to people, maybe the world will be a better place."

Tweed man Adam Mazzarella, whose great-great uncle Arthur Brown died at Gallipoli, took part in the re-enactment.

He said it was confronting to be part of the performance. "It was full-on."

Anzac Day centenary services across the Tweed Shire attracted bumper crowds on Saturday in line with a nation-wide trend.

Burringbar RSL Sub-branch secretary Phil Connor said this year's commemorative service was the biggest he'd seen in the town.

Sub-branch president Alan Vincent said the crowd was about double the usual attendance.

Anzac services at Pottsville and Kingscliff also attracted large crowds, while Murwillumbah RSL Sub-branch president Ron Bossink said the turnout at the Murwillumbah event was definitely the biggest he had seen.

He commended the contribution of the schools and in particular bugler Cody Anderson, a Year 12 student who has been performing at the service for seven years.

The Tweed Heads Anzac Day service also proved popular, with some people travelling from as far as Darwin to take part.

Queenslander Doug Goetze was among those who attended the Dawn Service at Tweed Heads, proudly wearing his medals alongside his grandfather's from the First World War.

The Vietnam veteran was also there to honour his father, who fought in the Second World War.

Jesse Jelonek, whose parents met in a German prisoner of war camp, travelled from Brisbane where he lives to pay his respects at the Tweed service.

Tweed Heads-Coolangatta RSL secretary John Griffin said he hoped the emotional commemorations would encourage younger generations to remember the toll of war.

"It's just the saddest thing in the world that people lose their lives for no good reason," Mr Griffin said.

Twin Towns chairman Michael Fraser said "anyone who wasn't emotional watching that, to me is un-Australian".

"I always come unstuck when you see mothers laying wreaths with their kids," Mr Fraser said.