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AAP
AAP
Politics
Phoebe Loomes

Anzac Day a must for three generations

Rachel Maddox, Wayne Everett and Jess Everett at the Anzac Day parade in Sydney. (AAP)

A son honouring the years his father spent serving his country says his dad would be "tickled pink" as three generations of his family are represented at Anzac Day in Sydney.

Thomas Albert Everett served for five years in New Guinea and Darwin during World War II.

His son Wayne, granddaughters Jess Everett and Rachel Maddox, and great granddaughter Isla Maddox, make a habit of attending every Anzac Day commemoration.

Wayne Everett, who has honoured his father at Anzac Day for more than three decades, said his son-in-law was also marching through Sydney's Elizabeth Street on Monday.

"My son-in-law is an officer in the Navy," he said, adding he was honoured to have him in the family.

Wayne said part of his Anzac tradition was to carry his dad's banner.

"The banner was going to get donated to the church," he said, adding he did not want to let the memory of his father's service just fade away.

"We're not praising war, or anything like that," he said.

"We just want to honour what he did," his daughter, Jess Everett said.

"We're all here today, and he would be tickled pink because these two little girls are here today," Mr Everett said.

"We have three generations here.

"It's a very emotional day for us ... and I've been doing this now for probably over 30 years."

Mr Everett said the two years of COVID-19 restrictions were tough on families who cherished commemorating Anzac day.

"But one thing that touched me really was how we still tried to honour him the best we could," he said.

"We still had our dawn services ourselves at home, and I'm very proud of the young people that honour it.

"The emotion of the day has never wavered."

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