Anzac Day 2023: Dispute between councillor and RSL behind Southport Dawn Service changes
Proud war veterans have marched at dawn in Southport despite a traditional march being canned after a councillor blocked the RSL from organising it. Follow what happened
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Proud veterans defied a ban and marched to bring in the Anzac Day dawn in Southport - and afterwards Mayor Tom Tate said should “absolutely” make a comeback.
The parade - which had been ongoing for more than 100 years - had been banned after a dispute between the Southport RSL sub-branch and Southport councillor Brooke Patterson.
A group of about 100 rogue veterans gathered prior to the dawn service to march down their traditional route, ignoring the ban.
One described the decision to ban the march as “abhorrent”.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate, when asked after the Southport service later in the day, said he believed the march should “absolutely” continue.
“My thought is that we will continue with the tradition and when I sit down and talk to all the parties my wish is the march will continue,” he said.
Earlier in the day, thousands fell into a hushed silence as recorded sounds of gunfire rang through the pre-dawn on the shores of the broadwater marking the start of the annual Southport Dawn Service.
The high winds left the flags flapping audibly as the service got underway.
Between about 4000 and 5000 gathered for the service - a crowd a little down on previous years.
The crowds came despite the controversy on how the service was run between the Southport RSL sub-branch and Councillor Patterson.
The controversy meant a march from the RSL on Short St to the cenotaph in the Broadwater Parklands was cancelled as an events company was brought in to organise proceedings.
More than 100 veterans who - led by Padre Don Parker - formed a rogue parade and marched into the service.
Among those was New Zealander Steve Oliver who came for the 40th reunion of the New Zealand Army Regular Force Cadet School.
“(The march) is an integral part of the day showing our respect to past soldiers,” he said.
Mr Oliver said the reunion had been planned for Anzac Day on the Gold Coast because a large number of their veterans lived in the area.
The group had always planned to be part of the march but then realised they had walked into a “local s*** fight”, he said.
Mr Oliver described plans to stop the march as “abhorrent”.
“It just shows great disrespect,” he said.
Despite the tensions Cr Patterson attended the dawn service and laid a wreath.
Southport RSL sub-branch president John Riebeling said he did not know about the “illegal march”.
“It was very pleasing to see,” he said.
Mr Riebeling said other members of the sub-branch had decided to gather a few veterans for a march and it grew as more people heard about the rogue parade.
“We always said we were going to run the service as we saw fit,” he said.
“It’s a traditional service.”
Gold Coast-based veteran Greg Overton, a major when he retired from the Australian Army after 42 years, said he did not know the reasons behind the controversy.
“It’s a very good service,” he said.
“I think it was well managed.”
Mr Overton was at the service with his daughter and two-year-old grandson Carter.
“It’s an extremely significant day in terms of recognising the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who committed everything to upholding the values of Australia and the large number who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
Mr Overton said he brought his daughter and grandson to ensure those memories were not lost.
The traditional show of flares from a flotilla on the Broadwater was cancelled due to the windy weather.
Following the dawn service people gathered at the RSL sub-branch headquarters, the Southport Bowls Club.
An official march was due to take place later on Tuesday morning followed by a second service.
MARCH 24
The Gold Coast RSL’s traditional Anzac Day dawn march has been scrapped after more than 100 years amid a dispute between the sub-branch and a city leader.
The Southport RSL won’t be organising Tuesday’s commemorations, having been replaced by HCC Entertainment and Productions after area councillor Brooke Patterson told the servicemen that complaints had been made about previous year’s services.
An Indigenous choir performance will go ahead on the day despite Ms Patterson pushing the traditions of Anzac Day, saying it was important “we recognise this is Anzac Day, not NAIDOC week”.
The RSL claims Ms Patterson told them they were “incompetent” when it came to the running of the broader aspects of the event.
The traditional welcome to country, previously performed by an Indigenous elder, professional pipers and buglers have all be scrapped and replaced by students from The Southport School (TSS).
Ms Patterson has defended the decision, saying “the logistics have proven too much for the sub-branch”.
It is the first time in 104 years that the sub-branch will not organise the wider event, instead purely running the ceremony.
Long-time sub-branch president John Riebeling said he and other RSL leaders were blindsided by Ms Patterson.
“We were told that the council thought we were incompetent at running Anzac Day but no complaints have actually be made to us,” he said
“If there was a problem we would have done something about it, we’re not inflexible but this has been a bloody nightmare.
“Brooke also objected to the Yugambeh choir singing the national anthem in their language, which is done everywhere else but we are going to do that anyway.
“They are not going to tell us how to run our ceremony.”
Ms Patterson defended her actions saying there had been long-standing issues surrounding the ceremony.
“In recent years the logistics have proven too much for the sub-branch, causing them not to meet the deadlines on finances and operational and compliance standards set by council grants policy and the Broadwater Parklands team,” she said.
“The RSL sub-branch were informed that their past failure to meet funding application deadlines, and operational requirements of the Broadwater Parklands management, meant it was difficult for city funding to be allocated to them again.
“Over the past two years the city has made this clear and worked with them as much as possible so they can meet their responsibilities.”
Regarding the Yugambeh choir, Ms Patterson said: “It is important we engage our young people as much as possible with the tradition and customs of Anzac Day.
“It is also important we recognise this is Anzac Day, not NAIDOC week.”
With the sub-branch no longer organising the broader commemorative services, several changes have been made to Tuesday’s events.
The dawn service, attended by more than 20,000 people, will no longer have a march. Mr Riebeling said Ms Paterson did not support having one, claiming they were not normally held elsewhere.
Several other major Dawn Services across the city hold marches, including Currumbin, the city’s largest.
The route of the morning march has been dramatically altered and will now run straight down the Gold Coast Highway.
Professional pipers and buglers have been replaced by student musicians from TSS.
The welcome to country, which in recent years has been performed by indigenous figure Rory O’Connor, will instead be delivered by a TSS student.
The move has outraged veterans, and surprised city leaders, sparking a rare political intervention from a furious former councillor Dawn Crichlow.
Mrs Crichlow, who retired in 2020 and was succeeded by Ms Patterson, said she was shocked that the sub-branch had been removed from co-ordinating the event.
“I find their removal as organisers to be very disappointing after all these years,” she said.
“This is something the returned soldiers look forward to all year and over the nearly 30 years I was a councillor I was always very happy with them.
“They have always run the event really well, so I was incredibly surprised to hear of this and I think the decision should be reconsidered for future years.”
Bulletin readers have blasted the move. One wrote: “Looks like Brooke Patterson is making a tilt for Karen Andrews job! She is giving us all a lesson in divisive gutter politics to add to her profile.”
Steve and Eve wrote: “My Dad, would be absolutely appalled. I know I am! Who and what does she think she is. So damned disrespectful to the ANZACs.”
Ken wrote: “As a Southport resident I say the actions of the Councillor are inexcusable. She needs to be voted out if she doesn’t resign over her actions.”
Others supported the councillor stepping in: “Councillor Pattison explained this decision. The RSL haven’t met council’s deadlines on time and failed funding budget requirements (ratepayers money). So they are taking over those logistics only eg.organise road closures, police presence, permits for public places and much more. Some of the old soldiers will be happy that they can just run the event on the day. It is Anzac Day. Lest we forget.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Anzac Day 2023: Dispute between councillor and RSL behind Southport Dawn Service changes
Join the conversation
Charges after teens’ alleged 1700km stolen car crime spree
Three teens found sleeping in stolen cars at a Gold Coast McDonald’s have been arrested after an alleged break-and-enter spree from Melbourne to Brisbane.
Read more
‘Enriched the fabric’: Tate’s surprise offer to beloved doyen
Regina King photographed the Gold Coast and its citizens for more than 50 years. Now she’s been made a surprise offer by Mayor Tom Tate. FIND OUT MORE
Read more