Mannum ex-servicemen blast RSL over Dawn Service speech honouring Aboriginal veteran

Two ex-servicemen with 36 years service between them have walked out of this year’s Anzac Day Dawn Service ceremony saying the event was getting too political.

Two ex-servicemen with 36 years service between them walked out of this year’s Anzac Day Dawn Service ceremony, saying the event resembled a lecture on race relations rather than a commemoration.

Mark Luttrell served in the Military Police for 13 years and he said he was concerned this year’s Dawn Service at the Mannum RSL was being wrongfully politicised – claiming it focused solely on Indigenous Australians – with no mention of anyone else.

“The RSL President talked about Aboriginals in service and in particular one Aboriginal (Private John Irwin), and the hardships Aboriginals experienced when they got back,” he said.

“And that’s fine, but there was no mention of anybody else.

“(Anzac Day) is about all the soldiers, sailors and airmen and women who’ve lost their lives in every (Australian) conflict to date, it doesn’t matter what your race is … if they have served the country they deserve recognition.”

Mark Luttrell served in the Australian Defence Force for 13 years.

He spent most of his service in the Military Police.

President of the Mannum RSL Richard Savage – who served for 22 years – hit back at the accusations, saying it wasn’t unusual to speak about one soldier, battalion or ship.

Mr Savage said the RSL chose to focus on Indigenous soldiers in World War I which was in line with the themes set out by the Department for Veterans’ Affairs.

He said part of that story included a reflection on the historical injustices faced by Aboriginal soldiers.

“In my speech I did touch on the fact that, prior to the soldiers going off to war they were treated as second class citizens,” he said.

“As soon as they put their uniform on they become one.

“They marched off to war, they were paid the same, they were treated the same, they lived the same, there was no blacks and whites.

“As soon as they came back home, they were sent back out to the missions with no compensation.”

Nick Chance served for 23 years in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. Picture: Supplied

President of the Mannum RSL Richard Savage served for 22 years. Picture: Supplied

Mr Chance spent part of his service in the Australian Army facility at Puckapunyal. Picture: Supplied

Nick Chance – who served for 23 years in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps – echoed Mr Luttrell’s concerns saying the service missed the point.

“The service talked about one particular Aboriginal soldier to the detriment of everyone else – nobody else got a mention,” he said.

“I think the worst part was when the Padre (Reverend Colin Nieass) basically (used) the Dawn Service to talk about the Voice Referendum and have a little bit of a political chat, which I think was completely uncalled for.

“So it kind of soured it for a lot of people.”

Rev Nieass disagreed, saying the focus of his Anzac message was reconciliation, which he didn’t believe was political.

“The recent referendum, the one we don’t talk about any more, should have been an opportunity to draw all Australians together, instead it became divisive before a single vote was even cast,” he said.

Rev Nieass believes his speech did not push a narrative “one way or the other”, insisting it more broadly focused on the idea of reconciliation, something “at the core of the Christian faith”.

“If that’s political then okay, I’m political, but to me, that’s just a human thing that we should be doing, namely walking together,” he said.

“That’s the pastor’s role, it’s to challenge people when they need challenging.”