Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn service, march get green light

Only a limited number of spots at Melbourne’s Anzac Day Dawn Service, with crowds urged to stay away from the city march.

Melbourne’s Anzac Day parade will proceed with 5500 marchers, but Victorians have been told to mark the day locally or at home to avoid big crowds.

The parade route will be shortened, with veterans to march 1.5m apart in groups according to their age and coronavirus risk.

Crowds will need to scan in using QR codes posted along the route while COVIDSafe marshals will be deployed.

The Dawn Service has been capped at 1400 people, with places to be offered to the public on a first come first served basis.

About 400 commemorative events will be held statewide, with RSL sub branches that shelved events – including dawn services at Torquay and Geelong’s Eastern Beach – because of coronavirus red tape urged to reconsider.

Melbourne’s Anzac Day march has got the go-ahead from health experts. Picture: File

The 5500 people approved to take part in the city parade comprised 5000 veterans and 500 support people.

Veterans and serving defence personnel from Australia and New Zealand, who won’t have to wear masks, will be asked to register.

Descendants will get second priority.

The parade will begin at the Arts Centre instead of Melbourne’s CBD and continue along St Kilda Road to the Shrine of Remembrance.

Special arrangements, possibly including cars, will be made for especially elderly or vulnerable veterans.

It’s understood there will be an air force guard of around 50 in a nod to the branch’s 100th anniversary.

Plans for the march, which had been in doubt, were approved by the Health Department on Tuesday night.

The midday commemorative service and Dawn Service also got the go-ahead.

While the parade will go ahead, crowds are being discourage from going to the city to watch.

RSL Victoria chief executive officer Jamie Twidale said: “We are delighted to have now received formal approval for our Melbourne events including the march and are looking forward to a memorable Anzac Day.

“The support we have had to pull this off in the last couple of months has been outstanding,’’ he said.

But some veterans were disappointed with the limited places available.

Hawthorn RSL president Lucas Moon said the figure should be higher. “The maximum 5000 veterans is insulting. Football has 75,000 on our day.”

Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said clarity was needed regarding restrictions.

About 100 RSL sub branches had or were in the process of registering events while around a half dozen had cancelled activities.

Veterans Minister Shaun Leane said gatherings of up to 200 people didn’t need approval under relaxed coronavirus restrictions.

Those with up to 1000 attendees only needed to complete a COVID-19 checklist and declaration.

Veterans Arthur Savino, Keith Hearne, and Adam 'Buzz' Lawson at The Shrine of Remembrance. Picture: Alex Coppel.

The process was more involved for about a dozen events of up to 5000 people.

“I’d really urge the smaller event organisers, if they have considered cancelling, to reconsider,’’ Mr Leane said.

“It’s not too difficult a process to get registered.

“Anything the RSL needs from us to support that happening, we will help them.”

World War II army veteran Keith Hearne, 95, who will take part in the march, was overjoyed to hear it would proceed.

“You give your thanks to those who have gone. It’s quite something.”

Registrations for the Dawn Service will open on the Shrine of Remembrance website on April 15.

Victorians can also observe a minute’s silence from their driveways, as they did last year, as part of the Light up the Dawn initiative.

VICTORIANS URGED TO ATTEND LOCAL EVENTS

Even though the city parade is going ahead, Victorians will be urged to attend local commemoration events where possible to keep the crowd size manageable.

RSL Victoria and the state government were working with local sub branches with COVID-safe plans for their events.

The Dawn Service and midday commemorative service will be streamed online with preparations also underway to stream the march.

Victorians can also share their show of remembrance from home by taking part in #lightupthedawn on social media while observing the traditional minute’s silence from their driveways, front yards or balconies.

The state government will boost funding for RSL Victoria to stage Anzac Day commemorations from $80,000 to $330,000 this year to ensure the safety of participants.

The Herald Sun earlier this month revealed at least 5000 marchers were set to take part in this year’s Anzac Day parade under plans submitted to the Health Department.

The Anzac Day parade has been given the go-ahead to proceed. File image

RSL Victoria in February confirmed the march had been cancelled but the move was reviewed following overwhelming community support and Victoria’s improving COVID-19 situation.

It applied for approval for a Tier 1 public event — the largest type possible.

RSL Victoria chief executive officer Jamie Twidale said: “Everything we have done has been about looking after our veterans of all ages.”

“The support we have had to pull this off in the last couple of months has been outstanding,” he said.

“Our plan has always been to put on COVID-safe commemorative activities.”

Mr Leane was quizzed about a parliamentary tirade against opposition MPs pushing for Anzac Day activities to go ahead, saying he’d apologised for the behaviour.

“Sometimes passions overflow,” he said. “If my passions overflow then so be it. But it is not about me.”

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