No Anzac Day March this Year

[Doc Vernon]

Well I never!!
On the News last Night and in the Local Newspaper Today!

No Anzac March This Year Cancelled in the Blue Mountains

This is terrible to say the least,that they have found it necessary to cancel the Yearly March through the Streets of Katoomba,Blackheath and Lithgow owing to the fact that the Councils now cannot afford to pay the cost of the Security (In case of Terrorism) What!! Here in the Mountains! That's a first I am sure!
Besides I have been to most all Yearly Marches at one place or the other,and have not seen too many Security (Police) around,yes a few to control the Traffic at various points but to say that it would cost too much is to me way over the top!

All the old Veterans that are left as well will now not be able to have their Annual Day,and will be left at home with their thoughts of those Terrible Years!
What a let down Blue Mountains Councils!!

We will rally together at Local RSL Clubs a the least on the Day and try and do what we can!
There is a Glimmer of hope still ,but will see what transpires!

Hats off to all the Diggers of the past!
Cheers

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[Captain Kong]

That is terrible Vernon.
Councils now cannot afford to pay the cost of the Security (In case of Terrorism)

It is a bleddy disgrace,

I was with the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment when we took three thousand of them to the Malaya war, in 1955.
some never came home including two of them who used to drink every night in my cabin due to the lack of beer for the Troops.
They were also veterans of the Korean War and a lot were killed and maimed there as well.

So for the sake of some security cost these men can now be forgotten. ????
How Many Members of the Council are Veterans of WAR.?????????? None I can bet,

How much money is spent on the Councillors expenses and dinners??? enough for that no doubt. like all politicians they never go without.

Maybe the Veterans should provide their own security.

Your Councillors are just as bad as ours.
Cheers
Brian.

[Richard Quartermaine]

You're spot on there, Brian. That should go in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. The only newspaper that is worth reading before it goes into the dunny. No Cookies | Daily Telegraph I reckon they'd be delighted to give the greedy councils a shafting.
Good on you too, Vernon.
Richard

[Doc Vernon]

A Backflip and why not! Yipeeeeee! One up for the Anzac's who always play Two Up !!
Long live the Anzac Heroes and their fantastic March turnouts!

Source SBS News

Blue Mountain Anzac services to go ahead

Anzac Day marches in four towns in the Blue Mountains will go ahead with local and state governments chipping in to pay the increased security costs.








The RSL is pleased several Anzac Day marches in the NSW Blue Mountains region wont be cancelled after a row erupted over who would pay security costs.

It was announced on Wednesday that marches in four towns - Katoomba, Blackheath, Springwood and Glenbrook - had been cancelled because RSL groups said they could not afford to pay for the anti-terrorism measures required by police and the state government.

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay on Thursday slammed the Blue Mountains local mayor, saying he had sent a letter to the Katoomba RSL sub-branch on December 15 saying the state government would stump up half the security costs and it was acknowledged several days later.

Mr Gay told 2GB Radio on Thursday the letter was also sent to the Blue Mountains council.

He noted that Anzac Day commemoration parades are unique in the Blue Mountains because they require the closure of the Great Western Highway.

The state government imposed the new security rules, including requirements for water-filled barriers protecting crowds, after last year's terrorist attacks in Nice and Berlin where a truck was driven into crowds.

Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill told 2GB Radio on Thursday he had never seen Mr Gay's letter making the offer.

Mr Greenhill said the council would pitch in for the cost of traffic management.

It will cost an estimated $40,000 to hold the four marches, according to The Daily Telegraph.

"It is perplexing Blue Mountains City Council can afford a $130,000 campaign opposing Badgerys Creek airport, yet cannot afford to honour our veterans," a spokesman for Police Minister Troy Grant said.

John Haines, president of RSL NSW, said he was pleased the parades would not be cancelled.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Denis Clifford also weighed into the dispute, issuing a statement saying it would be "extremely disappointing" if the Blue Mountains marches didn't go ahead.

"Anzac Day is a solemn occasion and a time when we respectfully pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice that was made by our diggers," Mr Clifford, who is also the commander of the North West Metropolitan Region, said on Wednesday night.

"I understand the concerns about the environment we currently live in, but I would like to assure all the veterans, their relatives and concerned members of the public that we are not aware of any specific threat to Anzac Day marches."

Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans Association boss Peter Jones told The Daily Telegraph that cancelling the marches would be devastating for diggers and the townspeople.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vernon.
The State Govt of NSW should pay for the security, that was what they were voted in for not to screw the people, if they can't find a few bob from the sale of all our power grids for the Anzac Day March instead of spending $billions making Sydney a huge car park they should be dumped out of office.
Lest We Forget.
Cheers Des
PS. We miss the Blue Mountains Gazette, I used to write letters to them all the time.

[Keith at Tregenna]

The RSL is pleased several Anzac Day marches in the NSW Blue Mountains region won't be cancelled after a row erupted over who would pay security costs.

It was announced on Wednesday that marches in four towns - Katoomba, Blackheath, Springwood and Glenbrook - had been cancelled because RSL groups said they could not afford to pay for the anti-terrorism measures required by police and the state government.

Blue Mountain Anzac services to go ahead

[Doc Vernon]

A repeat of what I have posted Keith!
Cheers

[happy daze john in oz]

Our council here has at times tried to cut corners, no Christmas decorations, smaller Anzac march. But only once for each, such an outcry by the residents that no council now or in the future will ever try it on again.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vernon.
My wife was ropeable when she heard that news, she said it's the army veterans who are marching what is wrong with putting a bloody big tank at both ends of the highway, any truck coming blow the bastwards up.
Cheers des