Due to the cost of anti-terrorism security requirements for Anzac Day four marches in the Blue Mountains City Council area have been threatened with cancellation. Katoomba, Blackheath, Glenbrook and Springwood RSL Sub-branches have all said that unless BMCC meets the cost, said to be in the order of $10,000, they will have to cancel their marches.
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Unless Blue Mountains City and the NSW State Government can agree to share the costs of security requirements the marches may not go ahead. In what seems to be a stoush, between the BMCC and the NSW Government, BMCC Mayor Mark Greenhill has now offered funding and use of Council trucks to act as barriers against terrorist attacks such as have occurred in Europe in recent times.
I have many questions about the real motives in these threatened cancellations. Is BMCC
Council:
- Seeking publicity,
- Seeking to have another agency pay the costs,
- Attempting to get Federal Government funding,
- Acting as an agent for terrorists,
- Showing their truly weak colours,
- Denying what made this country what it is today,
- Showing a lack of respect for those who served, some paying with their lives,
- Demonstrating that commemorative marches are a waste of council funds and time, or
- Is this whole episode a media beat-up?
I really am unsure whether these “terrorism threats” are real or the result of someone having had a bad dream. I am unaware of any such threat of terrorism here in the Manning and sincerely hope we never have such threats hanging over our heads. If we do I know what my personal actions will be on Anzac Day, April 25, 2017.
- 0515 hours: Wingham Memorial Town Hall for the Dawn Service
- 0930 hours: Muster outside the Wingham Memorial Services Club (WMSC), Bent Street, Wingham and march, via Bent Street and Farquhar Street to the Wingham Memorial Town Hall for the traditional Anzac address and commemorative service, and
- On completion of the service I may retire to the WMSC where I will likely have a couple of “jugs” and reflect on the words of The ODE and remember those whom have served and whom I miss.
If commemoration marches and parades in Wingham are cancelled, for whatever reason, I will still march as we have always marched. You are welcome to join me. I do not think I will be lonely !!
Ron Irwin, president of Wingham RSL Sub-branch
Lest We Forget