This year, we’ll march on Anzac Day to remember them
GREG BROWN and RHIANNON DOWN - MARCH 9, 2021
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Anzac Day marches will be held in every capital city after Scott Morrison said he wanted the national day to proceed, arguing that if people were free to “protest” and “party” then they should be free to honour the nation’s war veterans.
The Victorian government was on Tuesday considering plans to declare this year’s Anzac Day march in Melbourne a “major event’’ which would allow up to 5000 people to participate.
The NSW government increased the number of veterans allowed to march on April 25 from 500 to 5000 following the Prime Minister’s intervention and an outcry from veterans. The decision was made after a crisis meeting between NSW Police Minister David Elliott, health officials and veterans groups.
“If people can party and if people can protest, then we can remember as a nation, and honour our veterans on Anzac Day,” Mr Morrison said. “I would like to see that done as fully and as safely as possible, and I think that is not beyond our wits to achieve that. I want Anzac Day on.”
Marches and remembrance services were cancelled last year as the COVID-19 pandemic escalated and forced large-scale restrictions. Instead, families participated in emotional, candlelit driveway vigils at dawn to mark the occasion.
Former governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove told The Australian it was time to “get one of our great national days back”.
Sir Peter, who served in Vietnam with 9 RAR, said he was “saddened” by the initial plans for just 500 people to be allowed to march in Sydney.
Bigger crowds had been allowed at last Saturday’s Mardi Gras, which was attended by 30,000 people at the Sydney Cricket Ground and featured 5000 parade participants.
“I was saddened at what I saw as the de facto demise of Anzac Day as a national day, which for many has been as prominent or more so than many of our other national holidays,” Sir Peter said
“I hope that in all of the usual places around Australia, veterans and those who observe and respect Anzac Day can gather and march or watch in the way we have done since 1916 when, on the shores of the Suez Canal, Monash and others made their first commemoration.”
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