RSL cancels Darwin Anzac Day service amid coronavirus risk

ANZAC Day commemorations in Darwin have been cancelled amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, in alignment with RSL branches in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Anzac Day celebrations in Darwin have been cancelled amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, in alignment with RSL branches in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

ANZAC Day commemorations in Darwin have been cancelled amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, in alignment with RSL branches around the country in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia.

Darwin RSL sub-branch manager Steve Gloster confirmed to the NT News that the Top End branch of the RSL has moved to cancel the event to align with health recommendations about large gatherings of more than 500 people.

“We won’t have anything on at all. Nothing. Because we can’t control it,” he said.

“Even if we tried to have a little service at the cenotaph, half the town might turn up anyway. People would just come along.”

An Anzac Day service has previously been called off in Darwin, in 2003, but that was due to cyclone warnings rather than a pandemic.

Mr Gloster said those who wished to pay their respects on Anzac Day would still be able to go for a walk along the Esplanade by the cenotaph, but there will be no official event.

He suggested people could still pay their respects from home as well.

Victoria and South Australia are still hosting Anzac Day services, but Mr Gloster said that was because they had infrastructure in place to allow it.

“Melbourne will have theirs, and I think South Australia are having a dawn service,” he said.

“They can do it because they can close off the areas, we can’t do that here.”