Fremantle’s Anzac service is open to the public again, but the RSLWA is encouraging continued driveway dawn services.
WITH the easing of covid restrictions, the public are allowed back at this year’s Fremantle’s Anzac Day Dawn Service at Monument Hill, but mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge is urging people to consider the health of elderly veterans attending.
“Anzac Day is one of Fremantle’s most cherished civic events, so I’m pleased that we will once again be able to gather at Monument Hill to remember those who sacrificed so much in the service of their country,” Mayor Fitzhardinge said.
“There will be a covid event plan in place, and we will reposition the screens at the monument to allow for better viewing points and assist with physical distancing.
“However, given many of those in attendance will be elderly veterans who are more at risk from COVID, I would also encourage people to consider other ways to participate in the service.
“For the past two years the community has really embraced Driveways at Dawn as a way of commemorating Anzac Day.
“This year the Fremantle Dawn Service will be live streamed by the City so members of the public will be able to tune in to that and pay their respects at home.”
The Fremantle Anzac Day Dawn Service will be held at Monument Hill on Monday April 25, with formalities starting at 5.50am.
It will be followed by the North Fremantle service at 9am at the Fallen Soldiers Memorial on the corner of Queen Victoria Street and Harvest Road.
The Anzac Day March also returns this year.It will start from Pioneer Park opposite Fremantle Station at 10.15am and follow a new route along the Cappuccino Strip, Henderson Street and William Street to Walyalup Koort.
A display of 400 poppies made from recycled bottles by artist Michael Alvares will be installed on the sloping lawn in front of the Walyalup Civic Centre. Workshops will be held where members of the public will be invited to make their own poppies.
Meanwhile in Perth, the Anzac Day dawn service in Kings Park will be a small, invitation-only event this year to protect veterans from covid.
The RSLWA announced “In line with the current covid-19 pandemic climate, RSLWA has had to make the difficult decision not to deliver the traditional Kings Park Dawn Service and remove public participation for 2022”.
A live radio commemorative service will instead be broadcast for people to participate in their own Driveway Dawn Services, “to protect our more vulnerable veterans,” a representative from the RSLWA said.