#STANDTO: Call to commemorate Anzac Day at home

PEOPLE in the Surf Coast Shire and surrounds can #STANDTO and Light Up the Dawn to commemorate Anzac Day (April 25) after services were cancelled for the first time in more than 100 years.
The Returned and Service Leagues (RSL) has encouraged people to take part in alternate Anzac Day services after the RSL chose to reduce services and call on the service community and the public to stay home due to coronavirus.
Torquay RSL was preparing for about 14,000 people to attend the Point Danger service, but RSL Victoria last month announced all public Anzac Day services would be cancelled.
In place of the regular dawn services, RSL Victoria is promoting Light up the Dawn, an initiative which invites people to stand on their driveway at 6am on Anzac Day with a candle, lantern or some other light to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those that have served or still are serving.
Torquay RSL president Bob Tyler encouraged people wishing to pay tribute to the Anzacs to do so in
this way. “We’re now saying to stand in your driveway with a candle and have your radio tuned to the ABC for the dawn service in town.”
Anglesea RSL secretary Angela Hunt said embracing the Anzac spirit was particularly pertinent given the circumstances.
“Let’s Light up The Dawn and shine a light to show our service people, past and present, that we will always remember what they have done for our nation, and that they have evoked our Anzac spirit, showing humour, endurance, courage and mateship, which becomes more important than ever in our current situation.”
The Anglesea RSL will also lay a wreath at the cenotaph to honour those who served.
RSL Victoria state president Dr Robert Webster said while the day would undoubtedly be different, many of the usual customs would still be followed.
“Anzac Day 2020 will not look like the Anzac Day that so many of us are used to participating in. But there will be a service, wreaths will be laid, ‘The Last Post’ will still be played, a minute of silence in memory of the fallen will be observed, but the public will be asked to stay at home.”
Local radio stations bay 93.9 and K rock will simulcast the entire official Victorian dawn service from Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, beginning at 5.45am. The service will also be streamed on RSL Victoria’s Facebook page (facebook.com/rslvic).
RSL Victoria are also encouraging people joining in the Light up the Dawn movement to take a photo from their driveway and share it on the Facebook page with the hashtag #STANDTO.