Fears held for future of Dawn Service in Darwin

DARWIN’s Anzac Day ceremony could be under threat beyond next year if the Darwin RSL’s bid to build a new clubhouse on the Esplanade cannot be realised

The Darwin RSL holds fears for the future of the Dawn Service beyond 2021 if they cannot find a regular source of income. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

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DARWIN’s Anzac Day ceremony could be under threat beyond next year if the Darwin RSL’s bid to build a new clubhouse on the Esplanade cannot be realised.

With two years of no income after a fire gutted the Cavenagh St Darwin RSL Club, president Stephen Gloster said without regular income the Dawn Service might not survive beyond 2021.

“If we didn’t get more revenue in the next 12 months we’d have to look at cutting back what we do,” he said.

“The big screne would go first, the chairs as well.”

Concept Art of the Darwin RSL's Esplanade proposal. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mr Gloster said the proposed Esplanade clubhouse, which will go through council late next month, could provide the much needed revenue.

“Through this signature development we will ensure the flow-on effects of providing revenue to run the Anzac Day service and caring for our veterans is secured for the future,” he said.

Mr Gloster said the Darwin RSL put $50,000 into running the event each year, with the NT Government chipping in a grant of $15,000 each year for the past two years to ensure the Dawn Service could run.

“The Darwin RSL is the only capital city RSL club in Australia that provides the majority of funding to run Anzac Day services for the community,” he said.

“(That’s) a cost of $50,000 to hire event equipment, speaker systems and logistics to run the march and service.”

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Mr Gloster said the new venue could also open other avenues of income for the club which could support events such as Bombing of Darwin Day and other ceremonies at the Darwin Cenotaph.

“If we are seriously invested in the idea of Turbocharging Tourism then as a community we need to turbocharge rather than hinder new tourism products and proposals,” he said.

“Instead of why we can’t, let’s look at why we can.”

Mr Gloster said the venue could also contribute to the economic rebuild and provide a number of jobs across the community, both in its construction and operation.

“With Darwin currently experiencing an economic downturn, 45 jobs will be created through the development of this signature project,” he said.

“There will also be a further 30 ongoing full-time jobs for other workers when it opens.”

The RSL has already flagged it does not intend to build in another location if the Esplanade proposal is knocked back. However the proposal already has an official opposer after Member for Port Darwin Paul Kirby tabled a petition with 10,000 signatures orchestrated from the Deckchair Cinema, to keep the Esplanade as green space.

At a Port Darwin Meet the Candidates session on Friday, CLP candidate Toby George said he supported the location, saying it wasn’t a “drunken pokie house” but Territory Alliance candidate Gary Strachan said the Esplanade should remain a park only.

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