‘Nasty and horrible’: RSL responds to cancelled Anzac event criticism

RSL volunteers say they are “very hurt and disappointed” following backlash from some residents after it was confirmed Mareeba’s Anzac Day events would be cancelled.

MAREEBA RSL volunteers have responded to a backlash from some residents after announcing Anzac Day events would be cancelled this year.

It was announced last week that due to the COVID regulations that were required for an event that attracts over 1500 people, the sub branch had made the decision to cancel Mareeba’s Anzac Day parade and march.

On behalf of Mareeba Lions Club Denis McKinley laid a wreath at the Mareeba Anzac Day Service at the 2019 parade. Picture: Bronwyn Wheatcroft

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Mareeba RSL Sub Branch secretary Cheryl Powell Emmerson said the response from some people in the community that followed on Facebook was “nasty” and “horrible”.

“We’re very hurt and upset and disappointed about it,” she said.

She said the amount of work that would have been required to make the event COVID-safe, from a group of 15 to 20 volunteers, many of whom were in their 70s, was not possible.

“If we had more members and if we had a bigger workforce, we might have been able to go ahead and do it on our own. We’re only a little sub-branch, we’re only treading water,” she said.

“The restrictions made it impossible for us. I understand why they’re disappointed, they were looking forward to having a service this year but … I can’t understand that kind of disrespect.”

She said people were still able to commemorate the day and pay their respects in their own way.

Anzac Day Dawn Service. Picture: Patrick Gee

“We’re not restricting anyone from going to the cenotaph or going to the dawn service, they are free to do what they like,” she said.

Mareeba Shire Mayor Angela Toppin said the council respected the Mareeba RSL Sub Branch’s decision not to go ahead with the morning parade and understood the reasons.

“As Mayor of Mareeba Shire I encourage all residents across the Shire to pay their respects this Anzac Day in their own way by lighting up the dawn,” she said.

Light Up the Dawn is an initiative that encourages Australians to wear medals, light candles, lay a wreath, or pay their respects however they choose somewhere in their home or property to remember the Anzacs.

A number of other parades and marches will be held across the Far North region on April 25.

Originally published as ‘Nasty and horrible’: RSL responds to cancelled Anzac event criticism