STATE Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin will join constituents across her electorate commemorating ANZAC Day from home this year with a broadcast of special services to honour our veterans and serving Defence personnel.
Ms Saffin said that like many other Australians, she would stand in her driveway before dawn, light a candle for the fallen, play ANZAC-themed music and recite The Ode for Facebook.
“While traditional marches and local memorial services have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have sent wreaths to RSL Sub-Branches who requested them,” Ms Saffin said.
“My heart goes out to our veterans who this year cannot join their mates and comrades, but they are held dear in our hearts and we stand with them in remembering.
“I am looking forward to watching ABC TV’s broadcast of the New South Wales ANZAC Day service from 10am on Saturday (April 25).”
The Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Governor Margaret Beazley, RSL NSW Acting President Ray James, a bugler and a vocalist will take part in the 30-minute service from the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park and the Cenotaph in Martin Place.
Coverage of ANZAC Day 2020 will begin with a 5.30am commemorative service broadcast from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
“The current COVID-19 restrictions can do nothing to diminish the importance of ANZAC Day in the public consciousness,” Ms Saffin said.
“We can do our own driveway dawn services and gather around our televisions, tablets and computers at home, to salute all former and serving men and women of the Australian Defence Force for their service to our nation.
“We will remember the fallen from the Northern Rivers and the Northern Tablelands regions who made the supreme sacrifice. Lest we forget.”
The NSW Government is encouraging people to share videos reciting The Ode and post photos on social media using the tag #ANZACspirit.
The NSW service will be broadcast live on ABC TV and streamed on the ANZAC Memorial and RSL Facebook pages.
The service will not be open to the public and the community is urged to continue following the latest health advice by commemorating at home.
Acting NSW Minister for Veterans Dr Geoff Lee said: “Let’s all unite with that ANZAC spirt as we pay our respects at home and remember those who bravely made the ultimate sacrifice for us.”
NSW Shadow Minister for Veterans and ex-serviceman Greg Warren said: “ANZAC Day is such an important date on the Australian calendar, an opportunity to take stock and consider the hard-fought values and freedoms which we enjoy today.”
Thursday, April 23, 2020.
