Hobart councillor calls for Anzac Day services to be overhauled to include other faiths

A Hobart councillor is calling for a major shake-up to Anzac Day services, suggesting the Christian hymns and prayers recited are no longer reflective of a modern secular society.

A HOBART councillor is calling for a shake-up to Anzac Day services, arguing the Christian hymns and prayers recited are no longer reflective of a modern secular society.

While Councillor Holly Ewin stopped short of calling for the removal of Christian prayers and hymns, she questioned why it was the only religion that was part of the official observance.

“I get there is a traditional element to it,” she said.

“I think to have one religion reflected in the service is quite exclusive and I think the service needs to be more inclusive.”

Cr Ewin attended her first Anzac Day service at the Hobart Cenotaph on Thursday as a representative of the council.

The lunchtime commemorative service featured hymns such as O God, Our Help in Ages Past and G od of Our Fathers, Known of Old as well as other scripture readings.

Cr Ewin said other aspects of the service were emotional and heartwarming but she was surprised by the heavy Christian element and felt it was time to modernise it.

“We need to ask the community what they want,” she said.

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“I’m sure there would be many people who will say it’s important to them and their faith.

“I reckon there would be just as many people happy to get rid of it or have their faith integrated into the service.”

Reverend Richard Humphrey speaks at the Anzac Day dawn service at the Hobart cenotaph. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Anglican Dean of Hobart Richard Humphrey said the church participated at Anzac services at the request of the organising committees.

“It’s a great privilege to do so and help the community remember the sacrifices of the past,” he said.

“The hymns and readings are specified in the Australian Defence Force manuals and are part of the fabric of dawn services and commemorations since 1916.”

Mr Humphries said even the phrase “Lest We Forget” comes from a Christian poem written by Rudyard Kipling.

“These hymns and phrases are so much part of the language of Anzac Day that it would be very hard to extract specifically Christian sentiment from the service,” he said.

Mr Humphries said the overwhelming sense he had from people was they were comforted by the service.