RSL endorses Anzac dawn driveway service

A grassroots campaign for people to commemorate Anzac Day by standing in their driveways at dawn has been endorsed by every state and territory RSL branch.

With Anzac Day’s once indestructable traditions cruelled by forced isolation, Australians will instead walk to the ends of their driveways on April 25 and light up the dawn.

RSL branches in every state have unanimously endorsed the gesture, with families across the nation expected to stand at their gates, on balconies or verandahs at 6am and hold a candle to fallen heroes.

Since regular public marches and services are cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis, radio networks are signing on to livestream services people can tune in to outside on phones and tablets.

Musicians everywhere are being called on to take to their front yards to play the Last Post and Rouse or Reveille for neighbours. Residents are being urged to dress windows and mailboxes with poppies and kids to make bright red “wreaths” from painted egg cartons to hang on doors.

What began as a grassroots idea to mark Australia’s great day of remembrance has grown into a national campaign.

“We get thousands and thousands of people to dawn services in a normal year and a very great proportion of those are from the general public,” RSL Australia general manager Kim Henshaw told AAP on Wednesday.

“So this gives them a way that they can have their own private commemoration. We see it as very positive indeed.”

He said it was decided at a national hook-up on Monday to tag the initiative Light Up The Dawn.

On Facebook and Twitter, dozens of community support groups and pages have asked tens of thousands of followers to register for “letterbox events”.

Credit for the idea is being directed at Melbourne man Justin Wilbur, the son of a Vietnam veteran who says, “nothing is going to stop us from remembering” our Diggers.

Originally published on news.com.au

Written by John Kidman