Epping RSL sub-branch blocked by police from holding traditional Anzac Sunday march
An RSL sub-branch in Sydney’s northwest has had to cancel a traditional Anzac Sunday march for dozens of veterans and schoolchildren over police’s terrorism fears and traffic concerns.
The Epping RSL sub-branch has been blocked from holding a traditional five-minute march for veterans and schoolchildren after an Anzac Sunday service this weekend over terrorism fears and traffic concerns.
Police from the Ryde Local Area Command have refused a request to stop traffic at 2.45pm on Sunday in Epping town centre over safety reasons for an event — expected to attract up to 500 people — which has been running in the lead-up to Anzac Day for the past three decades.
Epping RSL sub-branch vice-president Brian Swan, whose grandfather was killed in the Gallipoli campaign during World War 1, said up to 100 veterans, members of the Cadet Corps, students from James Ruse Agriculture High School and the Golden Kangaroos band were expected to take part in the march on Sunday.
“We just can’t believe it,” said Mr Swan, who was a Navy Captain during 35 years of service which took him to the Vietnam War in the late 1960s.
“This is such an important time for many of us, who feel Anzac Day is our real national day. We get twice as many to our Anzac Day dawn service, but the Anzac Sunday event is also a great tradition for us.
“All we’re asking for is police assistance to close the road for our short march from the club (in Rawson Street) around the corner to the Cenotaph (in Boronia Park) to lay wreaths. But it won’t happen now.”
Ryde Police Area Command traffic supervisor sergeant Leonie Abberfield said “it’s just too busy at the location”, near Coles supermarket, to hold the march.
“It’s a busy thoroughfare with too many side streets to control,” Sgt Abberfield said.
“We gave (Epping RSL) the option of holding a shortened walk at the top of the hill, but they said no.
“Even though it’s a five-minute march, we’d have to stop traffic for 10-15 minutes, and it’s just too busy at the location to do it.
“We also have hostile vehicle mitigation to stop someone breaching the perimeter in heightened terrorist activity.”
Sgt Abberfield cited an “aggressive” driver during last year’s Epping Anzac Sunday march as another reason for rejecting the RSL sub-branch’s request for traffic assistance.
She also conceded there were “roster concerns” in the lead-up to a busy Easter period for police, where up to four officers would be needed to attend the scene on Sunday.
Mr Swan said the traffic concerns were “a complete nonsense”, and he doubted an Epping Anzac march was on the radar of terrorists.
New Epping MP Dominic Perrottet has tonight weighed into the controversy, with the Treasurer vowing to take steps to allow the veterans to march.
“Seems ridiculous traffic cannot stop for 10-15 minutes to commemorate those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country — as has been done for the past 30 years in our community,” Mr Perrottet said on social media.
“I understand there are concerns but those should be worked through and this Anzac march should take priority.
“I will be raising this matter with the Police Minister personally.”
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