Numbers attending had been dwindling and it was to be the last Anzac service in the township after 35 years.
Yesterday, Mr Blackstock (85), a World War 2 veteran, was thrilled when about 100 people turned out for the service's revival.
The crowd gathered around the township's new war memorial - a large feature rock with memorial plaques and flagpole - near the Omarama Police Station, as buses full of tourists watched with interest from the other side of the road.
The monument does not replace the Omarama Memorial Hall as the township's war memorial, but is an addition and gives the public freer access.
Mr Blackstock, who served in the Royal Australian Air Force in England, called the new memorial "fantastic".
The service was led by Mr Blackstock's son, Michael, who is the the Upper Waitaki RSA president.
The rock came from Birdwood Station and, as soon as he saw it, Mr [Michael] Blackstock said he thought: "That's it".
It had a flat surface for the plaques.
Charlotte Sutherland and Emma Subtil (both 12) read the Omarama and Benmore districts' roll of honour - the three casualties of World War 1 and the six from World War 2.
Charlotte also read her essay on the similarities and differences between Anzac Day and Armistice Day.
It was her generation that needed to be encouraged and brought along to Anzac services as, in the future, they would be needed to carry them on, Michael Blackstock said.
Ahuriri Community Board chairman Craig Dawson lowered the New Zealand flag as the unmistakable sound of The Last Post rang out.
A dawn service was held on the hill above the Clay Cliffs Winery, with bagpiper Doug Wallace playing Flowers of the Forest.
Ron Blackstock's grandson, Dominic Houlihan, was the winner of the secondary school section of the Upper Waitaki RSA's essay competition, receiving the Chum Cleave Trophy.
Tori McGahan won the primary school competition and received the Dawson Trophy.
