RSL president defends decision to let women lead Anzac marches

With Anzac Day services to take place around Australia next week, some attendees may notice a big change at parades and events around the country.

Earlier this week, it was reported women would for the first time lead the marches of veterans. It will also be the  first time that many older Australian women will be able to march as veterans at all, in what Returned and Services Leagues described as a show of support to the thousands of women who weren’t deployed overseas but still made huge contributions to the defence force and military.

Women from a range of eras will be invited to take part in marches, while Invictus members will also march for the first time, signalling one of the biggest shake-ups Aussie Anzac Day ceremonies have ever seen. But some people had criticised the changes as a bow to political correctness that requires recognising women as equal to men.

On Wednesday morning’s episode of Sunrise, however, New South Wales RSL President James Brown defended decision to allow women to march at the front of parades in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. There doesn’t appear to be any information on whether the same would take place in other major cities.

“This is about saying women are veterans too” — NSW RSL President on the decision for women to lead next week’s ANZAC Day parades. pic.twitter.com/sO6Wxkg8SI

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) April 17, 2018

“This is not about political correctness, this is about fixing a problem,” he explained to host Samantha Armytage, referring to the lesser-known role many woman played in the armed forces. “We’ve got women who have served on warships and submarines in combat units, coming home to be told ‘you’re wearing the medals on the wrong side, your grandfather’s medals go on the right’.”

He said the move was to send a firm message.

“This message is about saying that women are veterans too, veterans come in all shapes and sizes,” Brown said. “It’s about being fair and making sure that their service on behalf of this country is recognised, so for one year, we’re putting them up front to send that message loudly and clearly.”

Brown added that he really wanted Australians to reach out to men and women in uniform this Anzac Day.

“You’ll see more current serving veterans in the Sydney march this year,” he said. “We want people to reach out to someone in uniform, to reach out to a veteran wearing their medals on the left and thank them for volunteering to serve on behalf of this country,” he said.

The move hasn’t been welcomed by all Australians, with many taking to social media to blast the decision to shine a spotlight on female veterans.

One person wrote on Twitter: “What sacrifice have women made for decades in Australia’s armed forces? Given that for many decades men have risked their lives fighting and dying for Australia. I think it’s wrong that women march at the front of the Anzac parade”.

Another comment read: “This ANZAC day Australia will focus on acknowledging everyone else but the white male Australian soldier. They weren’t really there. They didn’t do anything. Let’s focus on the women in the red cross ships that never got shot at because it’s political correct”.

https://twitter.com/NPhlud/status/985666528153448449

I see the women are going to lead the ANZAC parades this year does,t matter if they are veterans that have served just members of the adf. Returned men will be last in the parade=but thats cool at least the women will get to finish early & be able to go home to do the ironing.

— keith.moss (@kmoss50) April 15, 2018

Still, there are many who have supported the move. “Great to see Australian women veterans getting some well-deserved recognition this #ANZAC day,” one tweeter noted, while another commented: “Love the idea of recognising the women in a more significant way as well”.

Will you attend the Anzac Day parade in your city or town? Is it important for female veterans to be given the chance to march up front?