Thread: too slow to march

Originally Posted by weeds

just for you ausfree.....

both of my boys 6yo and 10yo were keen to attend dawn service in 2009 due the being involved with anzac day activities at there schools for the week or two prior

at the dawn service my youngest went up and talked to an old digger and than sat on the ground beside him and watch the service. after the service i suggested we walk up to the RSL for breakfast, have a look around and maybe even a chat with some diggers

we arrive at the front door only to be stopped and told we could not enter
i asked why
they said no kids allowed
i said your kidding right
they sad no

remember this is at 7am in the morning

they said its not good for kids to be around adults drinking on anzac day
i said i was comfortable with bringing them in and that we would only be an hour or so and i doubt that there would be many drunken diggers

keep in mind i now the centre of attraction with everybody stopping, looking, listening, he's me with my two medals 4yr and 15yr 'nothing too special' but had my grand dads string of medals 'rat of tobruk'

i stood there in disbelief, said to the boys lets go to which they were disappointed, the youngest even said the old digger at the dawn service was so nice

i turned around only to see some young lout in skin tight black jeans, piercings in his face, some stupid slogan across his shirt walk straight through
i turned to the guys on the door, no not security guys but RSL members, and shook my head

started walking off and a guy ran after me, he helps out at the sub branch with vet affair claims and recognised me, he said come with me around the side and i will sort something out

off we go up the side of the RSL where all the workers lob to smoke at the back of the kitchen, he said he would get some breakfast for us. there was no way i was going to accept breakfast down some grotty alley way

i gabbed the boys and headed off, to my surprise the same guy came running after us, in a woolies bag was breakfast............would you believe macdonalds had won the job for catering, i stood there stunned, could not believe the events over the last 1/2 hr

i didnt renew my membership

I suspected it had something to do with the youngsters, just like you I would be upset too!!!

Same the world over really.

Here in the UK for the last couple of years the government has been advising WW2 veterans not to attend the November 11th (held nearest Sunday) events in London as they are considered too old and frail.

It is though a little colder here in November than April in Australia.

Originally Posted by Ausfree

I suspected it had something to do with the youngsters, just like you I would be upset too!!!

kids are allowed in the RSL every other day of the year.........

all this said and done,
I believe all are wecome to march in ADELAIDE. The march is not fast by any means but is
a) downhill to the Cross of Sacrifice
b) a good way to spend a little longer with mates waiting to step off
(we march behind the Viet Vets so the first part of the march is wading through ciggie butts and empty beer cups!! )

As for RSLs, in SA clubs are the poor cousins to pubs, but myself as a kid and me and my 3 kids (now 11,8 & 5) are and have been always welcomed at the RSL we go to on ANZAC Day (my pop's RSL at Colonel Light Gardens and as I havent lived in metro ADELAIDE for so long this is my 'local' )

The vets there (good spread from WW2, Korea , Vietnam and Middle East conflicts) are all brilliant with their time and patience with the kids and their questions (although we have 'family rules' on ANZAC Day. No questions "have you killed someone? or similar - questions are more like when did you serve?, what is that particular medal for?, did you know my g/g/father? (as was his RSL) )

We only stay about 20-30 minutes after Dawn service usually as we need to get into adelaide for the march although sometimes we stay slightly longer... The kids get to choose 1 veteran each to get a drink for (they chose the service person & I purchase and carry the drink to near the veteran / serviceman and then they hand it over and usually say something like, "Thankyou very much for everything you have done for me and my friends and family"

sometimes its like "thanks from me" but either way the message gets across. When the kids are giving the drink I fade back and let it happen. I think my kids really appreciate the vets because theyve met some and because we explain what a prolonged and dangerous time all these conficts are/were.

My brother is in the army and went to middle east recently - whilst he was there we tried to further explain to the kids why he was there and the dangers involved etc - then the string of fatalities occurred further driving it home.

My kids know the words to a song called "poster girl" by beccy cole, they like it because its about beccy cole choosing to back servicemen/women overseas rather than pander to the "no war" mob -and she went on a tour to those forces. They like the song and belt it out when its on (although patriotic they are profoundly tone deaf so this is a good and a bad thing!!)

Anyway, summing it up, bring those men to ADELAIDE, we'll not ony take them, we'll praise them as it should be done! BUT don't bag out the committees etc as they have had to bring in all the rules and regs for a reason, they certinally dont plan to stuff it for people...much the opposite.. they are all / or mostly volunteers too!

Lastly, remember the accelerator on a blitz is in a different spot (where the brake normally is... if in doubt...handbrake!)

cheers
digger

I'll just add my 2 bob to the comments re: the RSL sub-branch not being the same as the club. I've had good support from the RSL as have others I know, they are excellent advocates for serving and ex-serving personnel. The clubs are just the same as footy clubs, golf clubs and other pokie houses all over the country: a WOFTAM.

Cheers,

Adam