Time to hit the street for Driveway Dawn Service

Nambour RSL CEO Suzanne Long said members, servicemen and women and staff would desperately miss the traditional Anzac Day ceremony.

For the first time in a hundred years, main streets will be empty on Anzac Day. Gatherings will be cancelled, marches called off.  But, rest assured, we will remember the fallen. RSL Clubs are encouraging people to honour the Anzacs during the lock-down by standing in driveways, balconies or living rooms at 6am for a combined dawn service.

Nambour RSL CEO Suzanne Long said members, servicemen and women and staff would desperately miss the traditional Anzac Day ceremony. 

“Of course Anzac Day is our most celebrated day we usually have over 4500 people come through the door from the Dawn Service until we close that evening. It’s a very important time of the year for a lot of people. Almost all of our 75 staff are on for the day. But as I said to my team, no matter where we are this year, we’ll always feel like we’re together commemorating Anzac Day with our members and guests. 

“We’re encouraging our members and everyone  to go to the footpath at 6am on Anzac Day to honour the Anzacs and play the Last Post if that’s possible. For a lot of people it’s their one day of the year where they get to go out over a beer and have a good chat. A lot of the older demographic don’t talk much about war, service or what happened except for that one day of the years. So it’s sad that they can’t do that. 

“But we’re still encouraging everyone, whether through family or by telephone or on the footpath, to still remember to celebrate because it’s an important day that does need acknowledgement.”