Country Queensland rugby league slams Anzac Day game schedule

A country rugby league club is refusing to play a scheduled Anzac Day match and is furious at being forced to forfeit the game. It claims it is being punished for showing respect.

ARH Tiger helicopters are seen during the Oakey Army Aviation Centre flyover during the Citizens Commemoration Service at the Mothers' Memorial on Anzac Day in 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A Queensland rugby league club with proud ties to its local army base believes it is being punished for refusing to play a scheduled game on Anzac Day.

The Oakey Bears have slammed the Toowoomba Rugby League for trying to force the team to play an away match against the Pittsworth Danes on the day of national remembrance.

In a statement released online after questions were raised by this masthead the club claimed its strong ties to the nearby Oakey Army Aviation Training Centre meant it would be disrespectful for them to leave the town on that day.

“Anzac Day holds deep meaning for our town – the only TRL community with an active military base – and our club plays a key role in the day’s commemorations,” it said in the statement.

“We cannot, in good conscience, remove our players, support staff, supporters and families from Oakey on such an important occasion.”

The club said it first raised concerns about the fixture in early January and were “deeply disappointed” when its pleas were ignored.

“When the draft draw was released, we were scheduled to play on Anzac Day (and) we were given until January 12 to raise concerns.

“We responded on January 10, clearly stating that we did not wish to play on this date.”

Nathan Brown of HMAS Albatross 808 Squadron keeps the vigil as part of the Oakey Army Aviation Training Centre Catafalque Party at the Anzac Day morning commemoration service at Toowoomba’s Mothers' Memorial in 2015.

“We received no further communication and only discovered we remained scheduled to play Pittsworth at Pittsworth on Anzac Day when the final draw was released.”

The club said it offered alternative solutions to ensure the game was played at a different time but has now been forced to forfeit the match.

“We have made every effort to work with the TRL and offered to play on either the Saturday or Sunday of that round.

“Unfortunately, because Pittsworth has refused to shift the date, we are now being told that our respectful decision not to play on Anzac Day will be treated as a forfeit, effectively punishing us for choosing not to play on a national day of remembrance.

“This is not fair. The TRL did not ask clubs if they wished to participate in an Anzac Day game, and now a club that responded in good faith and sought compromise is being penalised for standing by its community.

“We urge the TRL to reflect on how this has been handled and to do better.”

Toowoomba Rugby League chairman Michael Burns said Pittsworth and Oakey were given ‘autonomy’ to try and find a solution to the scheduling problem.

With the clubs seemingly unable to reach agreement TRL will now step in.

“We respect both the clubs who want to play (on Anzac Day) and those that do not,” Burns said.

“As a governing body we are happy to give our clubs some autonomy around scheduling when it comes to what day a game is played or kick-off times.

“We hoped Pittsworth and Oakey might be able to come to an agreement but it appears that is not the case.

“We understand there is a lot of emotion around the issue and we will now step in to find a solution.”