Southport Councillor Brooke Patterson hits back after fury around Dawn March being canned on Anzac Day
A Gold Coast councillor who sparked outrage by having an events firm run Anzac Day formalities instead of the RSL - and axing a dawn march - has tried to explain. Read what she had to say
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Gold Coast councillor who sparked outrage by having an events company run Anzac Day formalities instead of the RSL - and axing a dawn march - says it’s a “lesson learnt”.
Southport councillor Brooke Patterson has responded online to criticism it was disappointing and insulting by saying her “intentions were good”.
Hundreds expressed outrage online after Ms Patterson canned a 104-year-old Anzac Day dawn march, blocking the RSL from organising aspects on the day. Events company HCC Entertainment and Productions was instead used.
The Southport RSL sub-branch claimed Ms Patterson and council had said they were “incompetent” at running broader aspects of Anzac Day services. The sub-branch also claimed it was blindsided.
On an Anzac Day social post by Ms Patterson that said “lest we forget”, community members expressed being “disappointed” about the dawn march axing.
Mat Thew: “It’s a real shame,”
Ms Patterson responded: “Lessons learnt. The intention was good. (To) have the veterans march in daylight when people can actually see and acknowledge them.
“RSL sub-branch president and I shared a beer after the service about the size of this kerfuffle,” she said.
Mr Thew added: “’Kerfuffle’, that’s a word I haven’t heard for a long time. Used here, it’s quite the understatement.”
Ms Patterson also replied to another commenter who said the march had a “change of time”.
“There was no cancellation,” Ms Patterson wrote. “You can go see the march at 8.30am.”
On Sunday prior to Anzac Day, the Bulletin asked Ms Patterson:
- why the Southport RSL Sub-branch was removed from organising commemoration events?
- If she had told the Sub-Branch they were not competent?
- If she objected to an official dawn service march?
- If she objected to the Yugumbeh choir performing the national anthem in traditional language?
Ms Patterson’s emailed response said “there was no such thing as an official Dawn Service march”, despite veterans and the sub-branch participating one for 104 years.
She acknowledged the Southport RSL would not organise the Anzac Day commemorations, replaced by HCC Entertainment and Productions after she had complaints in previous years.
She told the Bulletin by email: "The RSL sub-branch were informed 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.”
Ms Patterson defended hiring a private company, saying “the logistics have proven to much for the sub-branch”.
Leading up to Anzac Day, Southport residents vowed in community groups to march before dawn anyway.
On Tuesday, 100 proud veterans and others gathered prior to the dawn service and marched the traditional Gold Coast Highway route to the Broadwater Parklands memorial. One described the march axing as “abhorrent”.
Ms Patterson said in emails to the Bulletin for the original story, having two marches - one at dawn and scheduled later in the morning at 8.30am - was “highly irregular, and confusing for anyone who wanted to attend”.
But comments on a Southport Facebook page by dawn attendees said they were “very proud of everyone who marched”.
Gloria Bulley: “They fought for our freedom and we want to honour them and remember their sacrifice. Not have some politician take it away.
“(Not having the dawn march) is an insult to the veterans and those that fought for this country and gave their lives for us and our freedoms.”
Another said: “The dawn march was such a moving part of the service”.
On Ms Patterson’s page, one critic said “calling the sub-branch ‘incompetent’ - now that’s shameful”.
Ms Patterson replied: “I didn’t. That is what is shameful reporting.”
More Coverage
It’s official – Gold Coasters favour the light rail
Council hired an independent consultant who polled residents across the Gold Coast about their priorities. This is what they discovered - including a surprising tram stat from the south.
Gold Coast woman shares chilling video before alleged sexual assault
A young Gold Coast woman has recorded a horrifying scene in which she claims to have been followed and sexually assaulted by a man in Southport. SEE THE VIDEO