Diggers revolt over Anzac Day ‘sign up’

Anzac Day marches in Sydney and Melbourne have thousands of unfilled places just a week out from the event, with some RSL chiefs fearing a ‘silent boycott’ by veterans.

Marie Laurenceson with her great-grandchildren Tilly Reid, 10, and Thomas Cavanagh, 8, in Melbourne. Picture: Aaron Francis

Organisers fear some veterans are staging a revolt — or a “silent boycott” — against government rules forcing them to register before being allowed to march on Anzac Day with 80 per cent of official places unfilled ahead of next Sunday’s commemoration.

After last year’s Anzac Day events were cancelled at the height of the national COVID-19 lockdown, marchers have been allowed to return to the streets in Sydney and Melbourne under strict contact tracing rules.

But only 1100 veterans have registered out of a capacity of 5500 for the Melbourne march and Sydney’s 10,000-capacity event has received registrations from 600 individuals and 120 associations.

Veterans have been angered by the restrictions at a time when there are no community transmissions of the virus nationwide and tens of thousands of spectators are allowed in sporting ­stadiums.

RSL Victoria chief Jamie ­Twidale said he hoped as many people as possible would register to attend the Melbourne march next Sunday.

“The city numbers are still quite low,” Mr Twidale said. “We think the reason for that is … the format of the march being a little bit different than normal is having some of the groups and associations make a decision to stay local.

“There is a bit of a silent boycott … there is a little bit of ‘I shouldn’t have to register and the fact I do means I am angry and therefore I’ll turn up on the day unregistered’.”

Mr Twidale said the RSL had tried to communicate directly with veterans, hold forums and make registration as simple as possible. “There’s still a little bit of ­confusion in some areas of the ­veteran community about registration,” he said.

In Canberra, just 80 people — who will carry about 40 banners representing different ex-service organisations — will be allowed to march in the commemoration ceremony. This has replaced the veterans’ march, in which up to 5000 normally participate.

RSL ACT president John King said veterans felt disappointed that bigger services could not be held. “(There is) a lot of feeling out there that we could be doing something a bit bigger but we have to work within the rules,” Mr King said.

Australians were urged last year to mark the sacrifice of the nation’s Diggers at dawn from their driveways. Plans to scrap the Melbourne march this year were overturned after an outcry and participation caps were lifted in Sydney in the wake of protests from veterans. Brisbane and Perth do not have any limits on the number of marchers.

The registration requirements and participation restrictions on the Melbourne march are in contrast with arrangements for the annual Anzac Day AFL clash between Collingwood and Essendon, which is able to host a crowd of up to 75,000.

The RSL is hopeful of a last-minute rush in bookings for the marches, which require people to register because of COVID-19 contact tracing rules.

Mr Twidale said he sympathised with veterans who were confused about differing rules in different states.

“What is appropriate for one state is not necessarily appropriate for another,” he said. “I fully empathise with veterans across Australia who look at different states and wonder why … but ­really for us it’s about how do we have as meaningful as possible Anzac Day and march,” he said.

Up to 15,000 veterans and ­descendants typically participate in the Melbourne parade, with an additional 20,000 spectators. This year spectators are welcome but significantly fewer are expected. Ticket allocation for the dawn service has been exhausted, after 1400 people secured tickets.

In Sydney, 120 associations and 600 individuals have registered to march along Elizabeth Street in the CBD out of a 10,000 cap. The caps were increased in March after an outcry from veterans at a proposed limit of 500.

Despite the relatively low registrations, RSL NSW president Ray James said a “big contingent” would march and veterans were “keen as mustard” to participate.

“We have been working with the (NSW) government since September last year preparing for Anzac Day 2021,” Mr James said. “World War II veterans will be marching at the head of the parade, including at least one 105-year-old. (They are) at a vulnerable age but are keen as mustard to be part of the march.’’

About 12,000 usually march, plus 5000 spectators. There will be no limit to spectators this year, but they will be asked to register via QR codes. There are 1200 spots at the dawn service.

In Canberra, just 3000 will be permitted to attend the ceremony and the dawn service, which has attracted up to 35,000 in the past, will also be limited to 5200. Both events are fully booked. Community bands that have performed at the national Anzac Day march in Canberra for decades have been excluded from playing at this year’s commemorations and will be replaced with the Royal Military College Band alone.

Marie Laurenceson, who worked as a signals clerk based in Melbourne during World War II, said it was important for veterans to be able to gather on Anzac Day.

“The ones that have the memories and the comradeship, which is what Australia is based (should be able to march),” the 95-year-old said.

Ms Laurenceson — whose ­father fought in World War I at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, and whose husband and brother were in the air force during World War II — said she would march at her RSL club in Bentleigh this Sunday instead of on Anzac Day.

“(It is) so the others who want to be in the big march have got the opportunity,” she said.

Ms Laurenceson worked from 1939-45 as a signals clerk, transposing messages from all around the world into “plain English”, which either went to the Morse code section, the teleprinter or to dispatch riders.

Based at Frognall mansion in Canterbury in Melbourne’s inner east, Ms Laurenceson said of her job: “I feel more serious about it now. (At the time) it was just ‘get on with the job’.”