Remembrance Day services in doubt

Remembrance Day commemorations in Baw Baw Shire on Thursday of next week (November 11) are in the balance after intervention by the shire council.

Services have been planned at a number of memorials in the shire but a Baw Baw Shire officer has told Warragul RSL that it is unable to assist with necessary COVID-safe environments.

Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood was meeting today (Thursday) with the shire’s CEO Mark Dupe to discuss ways the events could proceed.

Under current State government health directions up to 1000 fully COVID vaccinated people can attend outdoor events at a ratio of one person per two square metres.

Attendance needs to be registered by QR code or sign-in and proof of vaccination provided.

One of the sticking points at Warragul, where the local RSL sub-branch was planning for a Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph at the junction of Victoria and Smith Sts in the central business area, is around securing the area in which people could gather for the brief commemoration.

Warragul RSL president Ben Vahland spoke to The Gazette of his frustration that proper homage and respect to Australians that have died in wars and others that served, if a service was not staged at the cenotaph given the current conditions for outdoor events.

He said he believed council could provide some temporary fencing to enable a public service to be held at the Warragul cenotaph and, if it was unable to assist at other locations in the shire, the Warragul service could be live-streamed and shared with other centres.

COVID restrictions prevented a Remembrance Day service in Warragul last year and the past two public Anzac Day services.