The focal point of the ''sombre and respectful'' service under proposals seen by Fairfax Media is likely to be in Cowra, where the World Peace Bell will be rung by dignitaries representing the nations involved in the conflict, and likely to include consuls-general from Germany and Italy.

The governor-general designate, General Peter Cosgrove, is expected to be invited to join the ceremony, which has the support of the RSL along with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Premier Barry O'Farrell.

The government has determined to mark the event by speeches in Parliament and it is likely that the Australian War Memorial may mark the occasion with projected lighting on the memorial and a ceremony at the end of the day.

Lieutenant-General Ken Gillespie, the deputy chair of the NSW Centenary of Anzac Advisory Council, said he could not think of a better way to mark the centenary than by the ringing of bells.

Asked if people would be concerned that nations the Allied forces opposed would be also at the centre of the ceremony, he said: ''I don't think so and they shouldn't. One of the legacies of the Great War is that Australia is a wonderful multicultural society and people in our society really can't be defined by what side they were on in major conflicts.

''If we can come through this centenary of Anzac with a better understanding of how war impacted the people and families of all countries, we will be a stronger nation because of it.''

Darren Mitchell, chair of the State War Memorial Committee, said the ringing of the World Peace Bell would be a sombre reminder of the costs of war.

''Marking the war's commencement by the ringing of the World Peace Bell enables Australians to sombrely and respectfully note the commencement of the centenary period,'' he said.

''Church bells and school bells could also be rung, perhaps at 11am or noon - earlier in the day. War memorial carillons could also be encouraged to play, for example at Sydney University and Bathurst as well as schools and churches and community halls.''

Cowra mayor Bill West said the ceremony would start in the afternoon with a symbolic wreath-laying at the grave of Private Edward Henderson, a blacksmith from Cowra, as a ''textbook study of the waste of a fine generation of young Australians''.

''We think dusk would be an appropriate time,'' he said.

''The idea is to be respectful, to be dignified but also to work in the spirit of reconciliation. Communities with no sense of history have no sense of future.''

State Communities Minister Victor Dominello said the NSW government was considering a range of initiatives.

''I am encouraged by a number of important community-led commemorations being planned across regional NSW, including

re-enactments of the Kangaroo and Cooee Recruitment Marches,''

he said.