Cook MP and Minister for Social Services, Scott Morrison, led a moving Community Commemoration service at Cronulla Park on Anzac Day where he remembered the sacrifice of Australia's servicemen and women, past and present, and urged urged everyone to pass on their stories to future generations.
"This is a day for men greater than kings," Mr Morrison said, quoting his great,great aunt Dame Mary Gilmore.
The shire community gathered to honour the memory of all Australia's service men and women, not only of the WWI diggers but all those who have served in conflicts up to the present day.
Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation elder Deanna Schreiber spoke of the role of the 1300 indigenous Australians who served in WWI.
War service gave indigenous Australians a pride to fight for their country although it would be many years before they were officially recognised, she said.
Sutherland Shire Mayor Kent Johns said we often believe that we are the lucky country but that luck is because of the men and women who have served for the past 100 years.
"There is such a mix of emotions on Anzac Day - sadness, gratitude, grief and respect," he said.
"All these emotions are there. That's why it is important to take a moment of reflection on what Anzac Day means to us and to be grateful of our good fortune to live in this great country."
Members of the Cook Mateship Trekkers read out the life stories of some of the 431 names who are inscribed on the shire's memorials.
The final story, that of Sergeant Brett Till who was killed in Afghanistan on March 19, 2009, was read out by his daughter Taleah. Reading out her father's story she was overcome with emotion and Sgt Brett's widow, Bree completed his story.
"As we hear these stories this morning it is our duty to pass them on to the next generation so they can pass them on to future generations," Mr Morrison said.
"They were ordinary men and women who served but they did extraordinary things and they remind us of the extraordinary in all of us."
Following the commemoration there was a performance by Luke O'Shea before the live cross to the ABC TV broadcast of the Anzac Day dawn service from Gallipoli.
