Anzac Day services across the country have been cancelled, but local RSL sub-branches are encouraging Australians to remember our fallen Diggers on Saturday.
With the COVID-19 pandemic prompting the RSL to cancel all public services, Anzac Day 2020 will look different, but Australians can still reflect on its meaning.
Ocean Grove Barwon Heads RSL sub-branch secretary Richard Lewis said locals can still remember our fallen Diggers despite there being no public services.
“We will be encouraging our members and the community to stay at home and watch the live stream via Facebook from the Shrine of Remembrance and/or participate in the #Standtoo and #LightUpTheDawn Activities being promoted online,” he said.
“I am hopeful that we will see big numbers within the community lining the driveways in our local streets.
“We will also be encouraging the community to make donations via the central donations website or purchase a badge from Woolworths.”
Drysdale RSL sub-branch will fly the Australian flag at half-mast between 7am and noon at the Cenotaph on High Street.
RSL branches have joined other groups in asking Australians to unite in recognising all armed services personnel by standing on their driveways at 6am for a combined dawn service.
“As a result of restrictions to this year’s formal Anzac Day commemorations, the RSL encourages people to light up the dawn and remember and pay respects from home,” an RSL spokesman said.
“This can take several forms including from the end of your driveway or within your home, with a candle or the light on your phone.”
From 5am the national commemorative service from the National War Memorial in Canberra will be televised on the ABC.
A live stream of the service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne will be shown on the shrine’s Facebook page from 6am.
RSL sub-branches on the Bellarine comprise Ocean Grove-Barwon Heads, Drysdale, Portarlington-St Leonards and Queenscliff-Point Lonsdale.
