Veterans ‘disgusted’ at prospect of missing another Anzac March

War heroes want Melbourne’s Anzac Day parade cancellation overturned as other states confirm theirs will go ahead.

Young Victorian veterans are demanding the cancellation of Melbourne’s parade be overturned so they can march for their elderly comrades as Queensland confirmed their event would go ahead.

Those who served their country say the decision not to go ahead with the parade is “disgusting”.

It can be revealed RSL Victoria, which canned the parade, held talks about the event with the state government on Monday.

Victorian veterans desperate to see the parade return have proposed age limits on marchers or proceeding without crowds, as the family of Victoria Cross hero Cameron Baird backed a rethink.

“It’s disgusting,” Vietnam veteran Bob Soutter, 71, said.

“It just seems crazy. I feel it’s a bit of a joke. There are a lot of veterans who really look forward to the march.”

Mr Soutter said that while the distance was now too far to march he was prepared to be driven along the route if RSL Victoria relented.

“Last year we missed out and this year we’ve missed out,’’ he said. “Each time you march could the last.”

Premier Daniel Andrews said all options were open to try and mark the day and make it safe.

“We are working very closely with veterans groups to try and have an Anzac Day that is as close to normal as possible,” he said.

“It’s too early for me to say what that will look like.

“It is a very important day and we will make sure it is as close to normal as possible and no one should underestimate how much work is going into that

Mr Andrews said the march was “an important part of the day”.

Veterans Laurence Quinn, John Torpey, Bob Soutter and Lucas Moon want the Anzac Day parade reinstated. Picture: Jason Edwards

It comes as Queensland confirmed that the state’s Anzac Day marches, dawn services and commemorations will “go ahead as normal”.

Asked how she decided commemorations could go ahead when Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said it was “too early” to call, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “We have sat down and we’ve got on with it.”

“We’ve been making this a priority ... People have got to put plans in place, Anzac Day is not too far away.

“That is a matter for the Victorian Government, we have acted swiftly.”

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said veterans would not have to wear masks because the “risk of spreading COVID-19 outdoors is very, very, very low”.

“We do not have community transmission here in Queensland today, and we probably do not have community transmission anywhere in the country today,” she said.

“That is what the difference (to last year) is, that is why we can move forward and, quite rapidly really, return to normal.”

RSL Queensland president Tony Ferris said he was “over joyed” and anticipated the commemorations would be “bigger than it’s ever been before”.

“The fact that we now have Anzac Day back is hair on the back of your neck stuff, it is quite (heart) warming,” he said.

Victorian Vietnam veteran John Torpey said that while he would march locally, others deserved the right to take part in Melbourne.

“Two months out and they’ve decided to cancel it. I think it’s premature,’’ he said.

“It’s tradition. It’s a very important day for veterans.”

Younger veterans said there was no reason they couldn’t march, even if elderly veterans stayed home for their safety.

Hawthorn RSL president Lucas Moon, 42, who served in the army for 14 years, said there were more veterans aged under 70 than over.

He said organisers could plan tiered restrictions such as no descendants marching, no crowds or an age cap, leaving an option to cancel if there was a third wave.

“It’s the one day of the year you get to march down the middle of Melbourne and you’ve earned that right,’’ he said. “I would like to see it proceed in a COVID-safe manner. The original Anzacs would not have walked away from a COVID plan.”

Iraq veteran Dan Cairnes, 42, said: “They didn’t consult anyone — they just made the decision that it was all too hard.”

Dan Cairnes, 42, served in the army for nearly a decade and says RSL Victoria should reconsider the decision. Picture: Jason Edwards

“If it was government cancelling it, it’s something that would be palatable to accept,’’ he said. “But for your own organisation that’s meant to advocate for veterans to do it without consulting any of its members — that’s wrong.”

Vietnam Veterans Association state president Bob Elworthy said about 4000 members usually marched.

“We regard Anzac Day being certainly as more important than Moomba. And certainly more important than having a football match on the same day,’’ he said.

Doug Baird, OAM, whose son Cameron grew up in Melbourne and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, said the parade held a special place for the family.

Cameron’s grandfather, who served in World War II, regularly marched.

“I would like to see it go ahead in some shape or form,’’ Mr Baird said.

“It’s an extremely powerful day and it evokes a lot of memories for a lot of people.”

RSL Victoria is continuing talks with the government’s Major Events body and Health Department.

Veterans say plenty can be done to save the event. Picture: Jason Edwards

“We understand how important the march is to some veterans,” RSL Victoria chief executive Jamie Twidale said.

“We are working with government and will hopefully have more to say in the next week or two. It’s important to note that there are commemorative activities planned right across Victoria.’’

Veterans Minister Shaun Leane said: “We continue to work with RSL Victoria to explore how Anzac Day can be commemorated to the fullest extent permitted by the public health situation, including the possibility of a march.”

A scaled-down Dawn Service and local services will proceed.

Sydney’s Anzac Day march will go ahead with 500 veterans, while the Mardi Gras has made its parade safer, switching to a ticketed SCG event.