Private tributes urged for Anzac Day

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Tate Papworth

The Sunshine RSL is asking the Brimbank community to commemorate Anzac Day with their own private tributes.

The COVID-19 outbreak forced the RSL to scrap it’s planned commemorations, but president Garry Collins said there were still ways to move forward.

“This has had a massive impact on us. We’ve had to cancel to march through Sunshine and St Albans and the badge appeal is off… we just couldn’t justify putting our volunteers at risk,” he said.

“As for the Anzac service, I may still carry it out in some form with no members of the public… just getting the ode out.

“We’d ask everyone maybe to light a candle out the front of their house or something to pay their respect… we haven’t quite worked that out yet, but we can’t risk public safety.”

In a double blow, the Sunshine RSL is currently celebrating its 100th year and has had to scrap a number of celebratory events scheduled for later in the year.

But Mr Collins said that while the branch was shut, it would still look to support veterans.

“We’re looking at ways get a decent meal out to older vets well up in their age… we just had a meeting with the kitchen staff yesterday and are looking to get roast dinners cooked up and delivered to them,” he said.