Crowds of up to 100 people will be allowed at this year's Remembrance Day service as part of a one-off exemption to allow small communities to honour the diggers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The normal cap of 20 people for outdoor gatherings will be lifted specially for the November 11 services, however all the social distancing rules will still apply as normal.
The news came to the delight of Wagga RSL sub-branch president David Gardiner, who said preparations were now underway for a normal-ish Remembrance Day service.
"All the arrangements are well in hand to hold the Remembrance Day service at the cenotaph and we'll also be doing some fundraising prior to that, selling poppies and whatnot in the streets," Mr Gardiner said.
"If we can get volunteers, we'll take anybody who will help us. We're always short on volunteers, so if we can get a few more that would be great."
The poppy drive will be the first bit of fundraising the sub-branch has been able to do all year, due to COVID-19 restrictions cancelling their Anzac Day badge drive.
Mr Gardiner has a stack of unsold Anzac Day badges that will need to wait around until the next Anzac Day, provided that normality has returned by then.
"We're hoping things will be back to 'normal', as they say, by next year and we can have a full Anzac Day," Mr Gardiner said.
"The good thing to come out of this year's Anzac Day was the dawn service around the streets outside of people's houses, and I think that might even continue next year."
RSL NSW acting president Ray James said the easing of restrictions meant a lot to regional communities especially, who had sorely missed attending this year's Anzac Day services in person.
"With this year's Anzac Day commemorations cancelled due to the pandemic, it is particularly meaningful for the veteran community to see Remembrance Day gatherings taking place," Mr James said.
"Local Remembrance Day services have a significant role in regional and rural communities where the incidence of COVID-19 has been low in recent months."
In other news:
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
