Brendan Simpkins and Ellouise Crawford

GAWLER’S Returned and Services League sub-branch has encouraged locals to Light up the Dawn again this year following the cancellation of its traditional Anzac Day dawn service.

It was a decision that did not come lightly for the RSL, but was done out of necessity because of parameters placed on events in the wake of COVID-19.

Sub-branch president Paul Little said organisers had hoped to hold a service at Pioneer Park with a COVID management plan in place.

However, the need for COVID marshals and a lack of personnel meant that was not possible.

While other services are taking place in neighbouring towns and suburbs, Mr Little advised the Gawler community to stay within the town boundaries.

“I would encourage them to stay in town because we don’t want to upset the other RSLs,” he said.

“I know what it is like with COVID and they are approved for a certain amount of people.

“At most, they could handle an extra one or two but if it’s another 100 or 200, it would put their plan in jeopardy.

“I would recommend that people do the Light up the Dawn and try not go to the other services. I can understand they want to do it, but it’s going to put a lot of impost on those clubs.”

Instead, a small dawn service for members and current and ex-serving members of the Defence forces will be held at the RSL club on the corner of Gosford Street and Overway Bridge Road and will be open to the public from 7.30am.

Wreaths will be placed by RSL members at Pioneer Park and the Digger statue at 6am. Numbers will be restricted, with 55 people allowed inside the club and up to 100 outside.

Mr Little said the RSL was “disappointed” services could not be held as normal this year, but hoped things would change ahead of Remembrance Day.

The RSL’s SA branch has also encouraged the public to commemorate Anzac Day in their own way due to various cancellations of services across the state.

As well as the Light up the Dawn, the public are encouraged to place a wreath or visit a war memorial throughout the day – besides dawn – and to visit an RSL club during the day. The cancellation of this year’s dawn service followed on from the RSL club’s decision to cancel the Anzac March along Murray Street.

Gawler RSL is selling badges, Anzac vigil candles and other memorabilia at Poetic Justice, Drakes, Bunnings Gawler Green and both Coles at Gawler Central and Gawler Green.

Freeling RSL president Garry Shearing hopes the community will once again stand separated but united in a Light up the Dawn service. He recently had to announce, for a second year in a row, that
Freeling’s dawn service would not go ahead because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Due to the coronavirus restrictions, we won’t be holding a dawn service or march, but we would like to encourage a Light up the Dawn, as per last year,” he said.

“And we would encourage anyone to lay a wreath at the cenotaph, in their own time.”

Mr Shearing said a lack of a traditional service at the town cenotaph was regrettable, but requirements, as determined by SA Health, would have been difficult to meet.

“I’ve followed the COVID requirements closely...and because it’s a public defined event, it needs a full COVID management plan, which requires a controlled area, whether it’s a fenced-off area at the cenotaph or use of the oval,” he said.