Rain can't stop Anzac spirit shining in WA

Ordinary strangers gathered at Perth's Kings Park, united by the actions of extraordinary strangers who fought, bled and forged their way into Australian folklore 101 years ago.

Wing Commander Peter Kershaw told the crowd of 40,000 gathered for the Anzac Day dawn service in Perth that time did not dim the memory of events like Gallipoli.

"The way our Anzacs bore the brunt of the fight at Gallipoli stirred in Australians everywhere a new feeling of camaraderie, a feeling that matched the way in which the rest of the world began to look at Australia as a nation of formidable character," he said.

"From the grinding hardships and terrible sacrifices of the Gallipoli campaign, through the Middle East, and the horrendous blood-letting of the Western Front, there emerged a distinctly Australian identity."

That identity recognised the importance of standing by your mates, showing courage during adversity and having the tenacity to get the job done.

Wing Cmdr Kershaw said the ethos developed in the trenches of Gallipoli and the Western Front sustained and inspired those who continued to wear the Australian uniform, but anyone could draw inspiration from the Anzac story.

"Our commemoration today binds us together as Australians regardless of vocation, regardless of race, creed, religion, and regardless of how long we and our forebears have called Australia home."

As the dawn light crept through the clouds, Wing Cmdr Kershaw asked the crowd to pause to consider their individual and collective responsibilities to honour the Anzac legacy.

"For the fallen, the missing, the wounded and all who have given of themselves, we unite in eternal gratitude and remembrance. Lest we forget."

Among the guests at the dawn service were Premier Colin Barnett, Governor Kerry Sanderson, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and former East Timor prime minister Xanana Gusmao.

The rain may have kept some people away, with crowd estimates well down on last year's record 70,000.

But there were still some first-timers at Kings Park, including Debra Harvey who brought her husband, son and his partner. They had family members who fought in WWI, WWII and Vietnam.

John Walters, proudly wearing his father's service medals from WWII, said Anzac Day was about remembering his father and others he knew who had died.

Angel Watts, 22, and Candace Hansord, 24, camped overnight to honour their relatives.

Ian Hughes, who has been bringing his family to the dawn service for years, said it was important to teach young children about Anzac Day.

More than 110 dawn services were held around Western Australia, including in the fire-ravaged town of Yarloop where two men died and 181 properties, including 162 houses, were destroyed in January.