Anzac Day 2020: How to watch services amid coronavirus lockdown

Virus measures have had an impact on how Australians will commemorate Anzac Day this year, with Queenslanders asked to pay tribute in an unconventional way.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Australia has led to the cancellation of nationwide Anzac Day services to be cancelled, with only a handful of Dawn Services to be held around the nation that the public have been asked not to attend.

However, coronavirus won’t stop Australians from paying tribute this Saturday, with Queenslanders being encouraged to stand in their driveway at 6am for a minute of silence for those who’ve served.

Chairman of RSL Queensland Tony Ferris says it will be a “hair on the back of your neck” moment.

“I would just like to encourage Queenslanders this Anzac Day the 25th of April to step out onto their driveway, their verandas, or their porches, at 6am in the morning and commemorate those who’ve gone and served this country, those who are currently serving this country, and those that have come home with their injuries and are still suffering with those injuries,” he said.

“This’ll be a very different year for us this year, but I see it as being a very symbolic year, because I think this will encapsulate every Australian, and get every Australian involved in an Anzac Day Dawn Service, something we probably haven’t seen for a very long time.”

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This Anzac Day will be unlike any other.

It’s a day steeped in tradition and history, and it’s important we still commemorate it.

Even though we can’t share the same space, every Queenslander can share the Anzac experience. pic.twitter.com/sdHVnVDjls

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) April 20, 2020

Mr Ferris said for Queenslanders to look out their driveways on Saturday at dawn and “see people lining the streets, still in social isolation but remembering those that have gone and served this country … it’s going to be something that I don’t think we’ll see for a long time to come”.

RSL NSW have also embraced the idea of a “Driveway Dawn Service”, urging all Australians to stand at the end of their driveways, balconies or living rooms to commemorate April 25.

HOW TO WATCH ANZAC DAY SERVICES IN YOUR STATE

For those who would usually attend a service throughout the day, the Australian War Memorial said their annual service will proceed, involving a revised ceremony with no veterans’ march and no members of the public present.

“We encourage you to #StandAtDawn and watch the live telecast of the dawn service at the Australian War Memorial,” the Department of Defence wrote on Twitter.

The service in Canberra will be broadcast on the ABC – on television, the ABC Australia Facebook page and also on the ABC Australia YouTube channel – from 5am on Saturday morning.

Local Anzac services across the country, while closed the public, will also be broadcast by the ABC on ABC TV and local radio.

In Victoria, Melbourne’s Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance will commence at 6:10am and finish at 6:30am.

In South Australia, Adelaide’s Dawn Service at the National War Memorial will commence at 6:30am and finish at 7am.

And in New South Wales, the morning service at Sydney’s Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park will commence at 10am and finish at 10:30am.

In Queensland, the State Government announced they will be streaming a Dawn Service, where a small group of people – including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, the Governor-general and Mr Ferris.

Viewers will be able to re-watch the service through the day.