Epping RSL, Hornsby RSL Anzac Sunday march back on: Police agree to stop traffic
Two Anzac Sunday marches, which were cancelled in Sydney’s northwest over terrorism fears and traffic concerns, are now back on this weekend after a police backflip.
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Two police commands in north west Sydney have been forced to do a backflip over their decisions to block Anzac marches in their CBDs after the Northern District Times yesterday revealed Epping local area command had halted its decades-old march over terrorism fears and traffic concerns.
This was followed by Hornsby area command claiming there were not enough resources to allow their annual sub branch’s march to go ahead on Sunday, April 21 - a decision which was reversed less than 24 hours later.
Hornsby RSL sub branch president Terry James had called on the local paper, the Hornsby Advocate to intervene, describing the news as “a great disappointment”.
“We’ve been making all the arrangements based on marching on April 21, but during a planning meeting with Police in the Hornsby Police Area Command last week, I was advised that they would not have sufficient human resources to be able to close the roads and control the traffic on Easter Sunday,” Mr James said.
“I’m guessing the overtime factor was equal with real availability.
“We were forced to cancel the march component of our ANZAC Service, and instead all participants would assemble at the Cenotaph similar to the process on Remembrance Day.”
A NSW Police spokesman said officers from Hornsby Police Area Command will provide resources to facilitate the ANZAC march planned for Sunday, April 21.
“Given the short notice and lack of any submissions to council, a negotiated position was reached where police would provide security around the cenotaph area and Peats Ferry Road for a ceremony,” the spokesperson said.
“Following further negotiations today (Friday, 12 April 2019), police have agreed to provide further resources which will enable the march component to also proceed ahead of the already agreed ceremony.”
The change of heart came after Police Minister David Elliott called for an urgent briefing from the Ryde Local Area Command after the Telegraph revealed the Epping RSL’s Anzac five-minute march this weekend was shut down over terrorism fears and traffic concerns.
Mr Elliott was stirred into action by new Epping MP Dominic Perrottet, who said it “seems ridiculous traffic cannot stop for 10-15 minutes to commemorate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country”.
On Friday morning, Ryde police called Epping RSL sub-branch president John Curdie to say officers would now stop traffic on Sunday at 2.45pm to allow the march to take place along Rawson Street.
“The veterans will be thrilled by this news,” Mr Curdie said. “We need to preserve history and this is a special day for the community.
“We are expecting 500 people at the service on Sunday, and I now just need to let our members know the march is back on.”
Mr Perrottet thanked the police for “doing the right thing by the Epping RSL and the community by working through the concerns”.
“This is a win for common sense,” the Treasurer said. “This Anzac march is a time-honoured tradition in our community commemorating those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and deserve to be remembered with honour and respect.
“I am looking forward to attending the march this Sunday to pay my respects to those servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate price to protect the freedoms we enjoy.”
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