Anzac Day to be a healthy sign of post-Covid recovery

The nation’s post-COVID recovery would fall far short of expectations if Anzac Day, the day that unites Australians like no other, did not return to as normal a commemoration as possible next month. Last year — deep in the first COVID-19 lockdown, when an effective, safe vaccine seemed a distant hope — Australians lit up the dawn on Anzac Day, gathering in driveways, on balconies or at windows at 6am to hold up a candle or a light and listen to a streamed Dawn Service from the Australian War Memorial. We honoured our war dead and our veterans under duress, in what was a solemn, moving process. War memorials in cities and towns across the country and on distant battlefields in GallipoIi, Villers-Bretonneux and Hellfire Pass were eerily quiet. Marches and remembrance services were cancelled as the pandemic forced large-scale restrictions. But the eternal flames flickered on. And the spirit of the day was reminiscent of 1919, when World War I veterans returned to face the Spanish flu epidemic.

On Tuesday, Scott Morrison spoke for the nation when he said “I want Anzac Day on’’ this year. It is time to return to the traditional rituals as much as possible — the Dawn Services in centres and marches in communities large and small, and the camaraderie in RSL clubs and pubs as veterans, families and friends enjoy a few drinks, share memories of fallen mates and venture their hands at two-up. As the Prime Minister says: “If people can party and if people can protest then we can remember as a nation, and honour our veterans on Anzac Day.’’ Decisions about crowd numbers and social distancing rest with the states and territories. They, and local RSL branches, should ensure a day that means so much to most Australians is commemorated as fully and as safely as possible, with the public encouraged to turn out. In another six weeks, the vaccine rollout will be more advanced, adding extra protection to hand sanitising and social distancing. On a smaller scale in Sydney on Saturday night, the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade showed what can be done. The event shone brightly at the Sydney Cricket Ground, watched by 36,000 spectators. Nearby, a breakaway street protest, held after NSW Health granted an exemption — provided attendees followed COVID protocols — attracted hundreds of marchers.

War veterans in Sydney were upset, understandably, by the news that the Anzac Day parade was to be capped at 500. Police Minister David Elliott did the right thing on Tuesday, calling stakeholders together. As a result, 5000 people will allowed to march in groups of 500, including members of the armed forces, veterans and their descendants, plus bands. Each marcher will be able to invite two people to line the route of the event, which will finish at the War Memorial at Hyde Park. RSL NSW had been too conservative in its initial plans for the march, Mr Elliott said.

RSL Victoria is awaiting approval from the Andrews government to host remembrance services for up to 5000 people, Greg Brown reports, while celebrations will go ahead without restrictions in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. After containing coronavirus, Australia’s post-COVID recovery is unfolding well in terms of economic growth, investment and jobs. As former governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove, an infantry platoon commander in Vietnam for the 9th Battalion (9RAR) says, it is time to “get one of our great national days back”.