MEDIA STATEMENT
16 March 2020
In light of current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) the Federal Government, having made the decision to cancel public gatherings involving 500 or more people across Australia, has had an immediate impact on the conduct of ANZAC Day services in all major centres around Tasmania. Public support for ANZAC Day may then lead to people travelling to smaller regional services, which in turn would raise the numbers in that location to an unacceptable level.
Our major concern is for the safety and wellbeing of the community at large, and also for our own members, many of whom fall within the vulnerable categories. ANZAC Day and all that it means to Australians is no less important this year, however our responsibility to the Australian community as a whole must be taken very seriously.
On the 15th March, the Board of RSL Tasmania unanimously made the responsible decision to cancel all RSL conducted ANZAC Day commemorative services in Tasmania. In the interests of public safety, we encourage those local Councils and other community organizations who host ANZAC Day services to follow our lead and reconsider their plans in the best interests of their own communities.
It is most unfortunate that we cannot gather to commemorate the fallen this ANZAC Day, and we will always remember the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of our Defence Forces, past and present.
