In 2020, the nation celebrated ANZAC Day in a very peculiar fashion by having candle-lit vigils on our driveways, but this year, Wyong RSL is planning to bring back some of the ANZAC Spirit by hosting services throughout the morning in their carpark.
The ANZAC commemorations begin at 5:45am on April 25 for the dawn service in the RSL carpark which will be followed by a breakfast supplied by the RSL.
Due to ongoing restrictions on some public events, the usual annual ANZAC march is being replaced with an 11am service in the Wyong RSL carpark.
Both services are restricted to 400 people, and all attendees are required to check in with the QR code for Service NSW upon arrival.
“Everyone that is planning on coming needs to sign in, and if we go over our capacity there is another adjacent car park that people can stand in to view the service,” said Wyong RSL Secretary, Tony Drover.
NSW Shadow Minister for Veteran Affairs, Greg Warren, is encouraging everyone to keep the ANZAC spirit alive this year.
“ANZAC Day 2020 will be etched into our memory forever… it truly was an April 25 like no other,” said Warren.
“While there will certainly be restrictions placed on ANZAC Day services and marches this year, many of us will at least be able to leave our house and pay our respects by attending a march or a service.
“It is imperative as a nation that we both preserve and promote the stories of our brave Defence Force personnel.
“The goal should be to make sure that the tradition is so deeply etched into our nation’s fabric that nothing, not even a year like 2020, can compromise the tradition.
“We all know the words of The Ode… We will and we must remember them,” said Warren.
Harry Mulholland