Knox War Memorial flag won’t fly in Ferntree Gully with coronavirus bans for Anzac Day

A request to fly the flag for Anzac Day at the Knox War Memorial has been denied, with coronavirus used to defend the move. And the mother of a soldier killed in action is far from happy.

Knox Remembrance Day chairman Hurtle Lupton and secretary John McLeod.

The mother of an Australian Digger killed in Afghanistan has chastised the State Government for not allowing a flag to be erected at the Knox War Memorial.

Until she moved interstate, former Ferntree Gully resident Alison Jones laid a wreath in memory of her son Commando Sergeant Brett Wood — who is on the Knox Honour Roll — at the cenotaph every Anzac and Remembrance Day.

Sgt Wood, who had previously been awarded a Medal for Gallantry, was 32 when he was killed by an improvised explosive device in May 2011 while on a mission to clear Taliban insurgents in an Afghan valley.

Alison Jones, mother of Sgt Brett Woods who died in Afghanistan, photographed at the newly created Knox Honour Roll at the Tim Neville Arboretum. Picture: Janine Eastgate

But this year when former Knox mayor and state MP Hurtle Lupton, who erects the flag on special days, was told it was not an essential reason for leaving the house.

The Knox War Memorial, just off Dorset Rd at the Tim Neville Arboretum in Ferntree Gully, is looked after by the Ferntree Gully Freemasons.

But upon contacting the Department of Premier and Cabinet about the flag, Mr Lupton said he was directed instead to the Department of Health and Human Services and was told a flag was not an essential reason for leaving the house during the pandemic.

Sgt Brett Woods is remembered at the Knox Honour Roll in Ferntree Gully: Picture: Janine Eastgate

“They told me ‘you can’t do it because it is not essential’,” Mr Lupton said.

“I said ‘I’d only be there from 7.30 to 8am and no-one is around at that time’, but they still said no.

“I think it’s a load of crap.”

Mr Lupton said while Anzac Day was a lot different this year common sense had to prevail.

“If you’re following logic there would be no flags over the RSL (sub-branches) unless there are paid staff because everyone is a volunteer,” he said.

Mr Lupton said while it was time to follow the “letter of the law” he wanted to see common sense in this situation.

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Ms Jones queried why the flag could not be flown at half-mast for Anzac Day.

“It takes one person to take care of that with social distancing,” she said.

Ms Jones said with the tragic deaths of four Victoria police officers, many flags were flown at half mast.

The DHHS declined to comment.