Five generations at Dawn Parade

Penny Klink, 5, will wear her great-great-grandfather's and great-grandfather's medals at tomorrow's Anzac parade. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Five generations of a Whangarei family will be represented tomorrow when five-year old Penny Klink wears her great-granddad's and her great-great-granddad's medals at the Dawn Parade.

It will be the first time Penny and her father Brent attend an Anzac event and, although the little girl expects it to be very exciting with thousands of people taking part, the biggest thing on her mind for a couple of days beforehand was having to get up at 5am for the parade.

Penny will be one of many children in Whangarei carrying medals and memories on behalf of former generations who did understand the reality of world wars.

Many taking part will have experienced, or family members will be marching to commemorate, other conflicts. While this year's Anzac Day remembers two nations fighting alongside each other at Gallipoli 100 years ago, wars since have included World War II, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam and Timor.

Sammy (Thelma) Klink said she is very proud that her great-granddaughter Penny will be wearing Mrs Klink's own father Tom Gough's and her late husband Max Klink's medals, from World War I and World War II respectively.

Mrs Klink, a sprightly 90-year old, said her father was among the first echelon of New Zealand soldiers sent to North Africa in WWI. His medals represent action in Egypt, Greece, Crete and Libya. In WWII her husband Max had been discharged from his Waikato regiment due to an ankle injury before he was posted overseas.

The couple first met when she left her family's farm in Dip Rd, Kamo, to work on a farm near Taumaranui during the war, and met again later when Max Klink moved to Whangarei to work in the dairy industry. They were married for 71 years and raised five children.

A record crowd is expected at tomorrow's dawn ceremony in Whangarei.

Whangarei RSA Trust chairman Archie Dixon said about 2500 people used to attend the Anzac ceremonies some years ago but the numbers in recent years have spiked to between 5000 and 7000.

Mr Dixon said although it was hard to say how many would turn up this year, he expected record numbers.

"Response from the schools has been positive as they've done each year since we started the Field of Remembrance and this year students from Excellere College in Springs Flat will read the 50 names of the war dead."

He said each school would send 100 students to the dawn ceremony to mark the centenary commemorations.

"This year, the Whangarei RSA will provide 1000 electric flicker candles to all school-aged children who are either in schools' parade or with their parents that will be lit during the dawn service to provide the children with a conscious awareness about the price of peace," Mr Dixon said.

MetService predicted dry weather in Northland at dawn on Saturday but warned there could be the odd showers.

Those who want to join the parade can join behind those marching for the armed forces, scouts groups and students.