How Cairns and FNQ will commemorate Anzac Day 2021

Far Northerners have welcomed a decision from the Queensland Premier that Anzac Day commemorations will go ahead across the state - but there will still be a few changes in Cairns.

A DECISION from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk that Anzac Day commememorations will go ahead as normal across the state despite the COVID-19 pandemic has been welcomed by Far Northerners.

It means services in Cairns have the green light to go ahead, however there are still likely to be a few changes to previous years.

Cairns RSL sub branch president Peter Hayton said discussions about Anzac Day had started in November.

“There’ll be a dawn service and the march will probably change because of the Esplanade works,” he said.

The 2019 Anzac Day dawn service was held at the cenotaph on Cairns Esplanade. Members of the 51st Battalion and HMAS Cairns at the dawn service. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

MORE NEWS

First Queenslander receives coronavirus jab

Photo gallery: Anzac Day 2020 in Far North

‘Lived a great life’: WWII veteran remembered

“At this stage, we’ll be starting the march at Munro Martin Park heading to the cenotaph.”

He said the Premier’s announcement aligned with “what we’ve been planning for it to all work”.

“It’s a positive but we’re still cautious as things with the coronavirus could change quickly,” Mr Hayton said.

“If there’s another outbreak in southeast Queensland, we’re not sure if it’s going to steamroll up to Cairns or not.”

Mr Hayton said defence personnel and numbers at services still remain uncertained as they were a federal government matter.

Edmonton sub-branch president Ian Oakley said the news was “wonderful”.

All Cairns Anzac Day services were cancelled in 2020 because of government imposed restrictions due to the coronavirus. Cairns Tropical Brass leader Peter Caldwell will be playing the Last Post on his driveway at 6am this Anzac Day, continuing the tradition that begun with the Cairns Municipal Band in 1916. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

In her announcement, Ms Palaszczuk said in times of strife, Queenslanders did what it took to protect each other.

“We’ve done it in wartime, and we’re doing it now through the global pandemic,” she said.

“Every single Queenslander responded to the call to stop the spread of the virus.

“Because we’ve worked together to keep safe, this year we can safely gather to mark the sacrifices of those who have served.”

In 2020, Far Northerners paid their respects at the end of their driveways after the cancellation of dawn services and marches.

Commanding Officer of HMAS Cairns Commander Glenn Williams with his family Veronica, Scarlett, 8, Lucy, 6, and Stuart, 11, at their Smithfield front gate to promote the ANZAC Day driveway Dawn Service in 2020. Picture: Stewart McLean

EARLIER: The Far North’s RSL sub branches have vowed to do everything they can to ensure Anzac Day this year reverts as much as possible to its traditional commemorations as uncertainty hangs over the coronavirus’ impact.

A district meeting of sub branches, including the Tablelands, Cassowary Coast and state representatives, was held in Cairns on Sunday.

Cairns RSL sub branch president Peter Hayton said plans, including a Dawn Service and a march, had been the subjects of discussion with Cairns Regional Council since November.

“Everything is going as planned, but (we) would reduce what we can do and how many people can attend significantly,” Mr Hayton said.

“There’ll be a Dawn Service and the march will probably change because of the Esplanade works. At this stage, we’ll be starting the march at Munro Martin Park heading to the cenotaph.”

Mr Hayton said the usual 3000-4000 people during the city’s services would be heavily reduced, but he encouraged people to participate in the Light Up The Dawn event introduced in 2020.

Edmonton RSL sub branch president Ian Oakley said only four hours’ notice about the district meeting was received and that a local committee meeting this Thursday should provide a clearer picture of plans.

“There are COVID concerns and my preference is for attendances at the dawn service and march,” he said.

“If the committee wants to do more than that, it’d probably involve the schools help with organising the march and to allow people to lay wreaths.”

The War memorial at Edmonton was being spruced up ahead of ANZAC Day in 2015. Returned servicemen and women Vicki Hinton, John Vickery, Neville Butterworth and Ian Oakley at the memorial. Picture: Brendan Radke.

He said the sub branch was preparing its cenotaph, with new statues installed after vandalism last March.

In a statement, RSL Queensland said it was working with its network of 230 sub branches “to enable all Queenslanders to pay their respects to the state’s veterans this coming Anzac Day”.

State president Tony Ferris said the organisation understood how critically important it was for veterans to be honoured and for Queenslanders to have the opportunity to pay their respects.

“We are determined that … COVID-19 will not stand between veterans and the grateful community they served,” he said.

“In the coming weeks, we will publish a map of services and commemorative activities across the state on our RSL Queensland website when they are confirmed.”

“While every organisation is required to observe Queensland Health guidelines on social distancing and contact tracing, we are planning two complementary commemorative approaches that will be COVID-safe.”

First, RSL Queensland is working with its sub branches to establish local commemorations, where they could be safely conducted.

Second, the ‘Light Up the Dawn’ from driveways at 6am will run once again.

Originally published as How Cairns and FNQ will commemorate Anzac Day 2021