Gallipoli, Western Front Anzac Day services cancelled
Australian-led international Anzac Day services have been cancelled as the government moves to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Dawn Service at Gallipoli. Photo: supplied
Commemorations at Gallipoli and on the Western Front will be among the events cancelled this year because of the global pandemic.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester said the decision to cancel was made with great regret, but the safety of people involved was paramount.
“We simply couldn’t be having large gatherings of 500 or 1000 people on Anzac Day on foreign soil this year,” he told ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday.
Large Anzac Day gatherings in Australian capital cities will go ahead in a different format.
The Canberra commemoration will be conducted on a smaller scale but televised nationally.
“We know that if we can reduce the spread of this virus we can save lives in our communities,” Chester said.
It follows the RSL on Monday cancelling Anzac Day marches around Australia, and restricting other services.
Dawn services will still be held and attended by veterans, but the public will not be allowed to attend.
-with AAP
