Family Anzac Day history grows on GC

For more than a century, Trevor Mailman's family has been intrinsically linked to Anzac Day.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Mr Mailman served NZ in the Malaysia and Borneo theatres during the 1960s.

His service carried on a tradition which includes his World War II veteran father and two uncles who died during the campaign at Gallipoli, where the Anzac legend was forged.

Now a naturalised Australian living on the Gold Coast, Mr Mailman held his granddaughters' hands as he joined hundreds of veterans for the Anzac Day parade at Southport.

"They asked me. The oldest one is seven and she marched last year with me," Mr Mailman told AAP.

"They get taught all about it."

Thousands lined the route for the march - one of several being held across the Gold Coast on Tuesday - clapping and saluting servicemen and women from different eras and services.

Mr Mailman, who has been marching on Anzac Day since leaving the New Zealand Army in 1965, says the commemorations remain significant to the community.

"It's getting bigger as the years go by, it's good to see the young ones coming along and learning all about it," he said.