Others hold their loved one tight and chat to friends – and even strangers.

And to a person, they have a smile on their face.

The Anzac Day tradition of two-up remained as popular as ever for many Novocastrians on Tuesday, as they headed en masse to clubs and pubs to bet a little and get amongst the day.

Some, like Charlestown’s Adam Ferris, began their day of commemorating Anzac Day with a dawn service before heading to a watering hole for a flutter.

“It is a bit of fun,’’ Mr Ferris said as he mingled within a happy crowd at Newcastle Diggers Club boasting punters and a healthy number of past and present servicemen and servicewomen still wearing uniforms.

“It is about being getting out there, be a bit of a larrikan, enjoying yourself and creating bonds with the other Aussies who might be having a beer.’’

Fellow punter Kobie Tregeagle, of The Hill, had already made a handy profit midway through Tuesday afternoon by sticking with the tails at the two-up arena, which was situated in its traditional spot in the laneway between the city club and Market Street.

“Tails never fails,’’ she said.

And that appeared to be the case at the Bennett Hotel at Hamilton, where spinners were finding it hard to make a profit.

One of the organisers, Darren Wilton from the Bennett Hotel Centurions cricket club, said the pub was traditionally a friendly place for those backing heads.

“It is varied today, it is all a bit up and down, it is very hard to pick,’’ said Mr Wilton, whose volunteers were raising money for the Black Dog Institute.

“Obviously we have got to know a lot of people over the years and people do come here because they think it is going to be a heads day.

“It is a game of chance, but for some reason it does seem to go heads a lot here. And I can guarantee by the end of the day there will be three or four who will always throw a lot up a lot of heads.

“It is a great atmosphere, everyone is enjoying themselves and we are happy to be a small part of it.’’