Former platoon commander Neville Gale, who served in Vietnam in the mid-1960s, said the dawn service "worked really well but the march and the national service was even better."

"For me the highlight of the day was the address by Brendan Nelson; it was outstanding – passionate and from the heart. Ben Roberts-Smith is a fine young man, a real role model, and his readings [at the dawn service] were very emotional. I thought the projection of the images onto the memorial was sensational.’’

The former army captain had travelled to the ACT from Perth for the latest D and E Platoon reunion.

"We used to get together once every five or six years,’’ he said. "Now [that we are getting older] we have brought it down to once a year.’’

Curtin’s Colonel Adrian Roberts, who commanded the relief force at the Battle of Long Tan, was favourably impressed by both services. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, he had to watch them on television.

"Technology is a wonderful thing,’’ he said.

"I was also able to watch the services in Gallipoli and France. The Canberra ceremonies were very good. They have to evolve as it becomes harder and harder for older veterans to take part.’’

Waramanga’s Ed Jones, a 93-year-old WWII veteran who was shot at Milne Bay during the New Guinea campaign, said Dr Nelson’s speech had been delivered "with a lot of vigour’’.

"He seems to be making a lot of changes,’’ he said. "I thought he spoke very well. He is an ex-politician so you would expect that.’’

Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James received numerous phone calls and emails praising the ceremonies at the AWM.

"The feedback I am getting is positive,’’ he said. "Everyone is talking about it, especially the role of Ben Roberts-Smith. The reading of the letters [at the dawn service] went down very well.’’

Mr James, who attended the Queanbeyan dawn service not the Canberra one, said he could only comment on the feedback he had received.

Graham Edwards, a member of the AWM Council, a former member of parliament and a Vietnam veteran, told Fairfax he had a bone to pick with the memorial’s new director.

"I was at the Perth service,’’ he said. "Ben Roberts-Smith is a West Australian and the bastard [Dr Nelson] poached him out from under noses… Seriously though, Brendan has breathed new life into the dawn service.’’

Asked if some of the changes, such as screening images on the walls of the AWM, was disrespectful, Mr Edwards disagreed.

"My answer to that is the crowds that attended and the respect that was shown,’’ he said.

"Brendan has brought the AWM into the 21^st century and nicely placed it for increased attendances at the [Anzac] services in the years to come.’’

Former chief of air force, Air Marshal Errol McCormack, said he had met Dr Nelson earlier this week and discussed the changes; both to the services and within the AWM generally.

"I am very happy with what Brendan is doing. He is doing a great job,’’ he said.