Circular – 22 April 2020
Joint Letter Regarding ANZAC Day 2020
Dear members,
Please click here to read a letter to members regarding ANZAC Day commemorations, including information on the ABC broadcast of ANZAC Day services. The letter has been written jointly by:
- Ray James, RSL NSW Acting President,
- Geoff Lee MP, the Acting NSW Minister for Veterans,
- Rhondda Vanzella OAM, State President, War Widows NSW, and
- Greg Wrate, President, Sydney Legacy
Regards,
Jeff O’Brien
GM Member Services and State Secretary
The letter has been reproduced here for convenience:
Dear RSL NSW members,
I trust this letter finds you well, and I acknowledge this is a very difficult time for you leading up to Anzac Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On behalf of the NSW Government, together with the Presidents of RSL NSW, the Australian War Widows NSW and Sydney Legacy, we want you to know you are in our thoughts as we commemorate Anzac Day 2020.
To protect the community from the COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities have banned public gatherings to ensure social distancing is maintained. Anzac Day commemorations in 2020, including services and marches, have been cancelled. This is consistent with the approach of all state and territory RSL organisations in Australia, and has the support of all State and Territory Governments and the Commonwealth Government.
While we are unable to gather and commemorate this important day together, we want you to know you are not alone and we stand with you in spirit. We will still remember our veterans, widows and families as we honour their service and sacrifice. Should you feel alone at this time please feel free to contact any of the undersigned Presidents who will be happy to take your call and provide you support during this period.
The ABC will broadcast a Dawn Service from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra at 5:30am on Anzac Day, as well as a special Anzac Day Service from the Anzac Memorial in Sydney at 10:00am, allowing us all to pay our respects from our homes.
You may also like to stay connected with the Anzac Memorial, through their regular newsletters and online materials and digital tools. You can learn more by subscribing to the newsletter on this link www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/subscribe
Please take care and know you are in our thoughts at this time.
Yours sincerely,
Geoff Lee MP, Acting NSW Minister for Veterans
Ray James, Acting State President, RSL NSW
Rhondda Vanzella OAM, State President, War Widows, NSW
Greg Wrate, President, Sydney Legacy
