Poppy Appeal 2021: Veterans and volunteers told when they will be back on the streets
The Poppy Appeal will be back on the streets and in shopping centres after important milestones are reached.
South East
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RSL members and volunteers will be allowed to sell Remembrance Day poppies in person when key vaccination milestones are reached.
Health Minister Martin Foley said the sale of poppies in person was “never an issue”.
He confirmed on Wednesday that once 70 per cent of Victorians had received both Covid vaccines, poppy sales could begin outdoors.
The sale of Poppy Appeal merchandise would be permitted inside as soon as 80 per cent of the state was double vaxxed.
Mr Foley’s promise followed a desperate plea from RSL subbranches on Tuesday to clarify
when volunteers would be able to return to city streets and shopping centres and retail strips to sell poppies and pins.
At least 60 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over are now fully vaccinated and on Wednesday Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed that Victoria was set to meet its 70 per cent double dose vaccination target ahead of schedule.
He did not provide a date, but promised that once the target was hit freedoms would be introduced.
11TH HOUR BID TO SAVE POPPY APPEAL
Veterans and volunteers are pleading to be allowed to sell Remembrance Day poppies on Melbourne streets, amid confusion over whether they will given the green light in time.
The critical fundraiser begins within weeks, at the end of October, but RSL Victoria is waiting for formal advice from the state government on whether volunteers can return to CBD streets.
Suburban subbranches are also in limbo as they wait for permission from shopping centres to sell poppies in local retail hubs.
Dandenong RSL president John Wells said confused volunteers needed immediate clarification.
“We can’t turn around a major fundraiser like this in a couple of days. We need time to plan and organise volunteers and there are extra measures that we need to have in place because of Covid,” he said.
Melbourne City Council issued free fundraising permits – valid for multiple years, and covering 2021 – for the sale of poppies in 26 CBD locations each year.
But the permits do not override the chief health officer’s restrictions.
With charity collectors not mentioned in the road map out of lockdown, the RSL said it was “seeking clarification on our permits to activate the Poppy Appeal in Melbourne’s CBD”.
“I am not able to provide a date on when that clarification will be forthcoming,” a spokeswoman said.
“We will communicate with our Sub-Branches as soon as we have further information.”
A Department of Health spokesman said the department would work with the RSL to provide advice on how and when people could safely fundraise in person.
RSL Victoria caused anger among subbranches when it told them to plan their fundraising efforts based on current restrictions but be ready if given the go ahead, also suggesting they extend the appeal beyond November 11.
“Poppies are for the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” Dandenong RSL Appeals Officer Jim Naughton said.
“Not a week later.”
Fully-vaccinated volunteer Leslie Whitiskie said she was desperate to return to the foyer of 360 Collins St, where she has sold poppies for 10 years.
“I hope like heck we’re allowed to do it,” she said.
“It’s not just the money we raise, it’s reminding people of the sacrifices made by all our veterans.”
The Poppy Appeal, which turns 100 in 2021, raised $2.6 million in 2019 but collected just $1.4 million last year after being forced online.
Half of the money raised goes to Anzac House with the remainder flowing into sub-branch coffers to support veterans.
Dandenong RSL’s Poppy Appeal raised $15,000 in 2020 compared to $40,000 in 2019.
Mt Evelyn RSL sub-branch vice president Roger Boness said: “A lot of people don’t know that the welfare of veterans and their families is our first responsibility, everything else comes second,” he said.
“It’s vital that we’re able to raise those moneys, through the sale of poppies for Remembrance Day, because that money is all designated for welfare purposes.”
He said many veterans and their families were still doing it tough after the huge storm that devastated the Yarra Ranges in June.
Ringwood RSL president David Jamison said the sub-branch would have to use its savings to fund services such as home maintenance and bus rides for veterans if this year’s Poppy Appeal was not successful.
“It’s going to hit us hard especially when we’re not trading and can’t make it up in any other way,” he said.
Poppies can be bought online here.