Boos mar Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn service

Booing of the Welcome to Country has once again marred the solemnity of Melbourne’s Anzac Day dawn service, while people gathering at three RSL sub-branches in Melbourne’s north and north-east before dawn were confronted with anti-Anzac graffiti.

About 55,000 people gathered in the dark at the Shrine of Remembrance on Saturday morning to honour Australia’s servicemen and women. An estimated 10,000 lined the march route afterwards.

But when Bunurong elder Mark Brown commenced his Welcome to Country, jeers could be heard from the crowd amassed in the Shrine’s forecourt.

The booing continued throughout his speech and was picked up by microphones near the stage.

Among those booing were former members and known associates of the recently disbanded neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network (NSN). In the lead-up to Anzac Day, Nazi social media accounts and channels encouraged followers to attend and boo at the ceremony.

Many people at the Shrine clapped in response to Brown’s words, trying to drown out the booing.

A small group of men again jeered when Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner acknowledged the Bunurong people of the eastern Kulin nation at the start of her speech.

Brown was also booed during the Welcome to Country at last year’s Anzac Day dawn service. The stunt at the Melbourne’s Shrine, involving 50 undercover neo-Nazis led by NSN leader Jacob Hersant, was part of a series of disruptions orchestrated by the group to funnel more mainstream recruits into their extreme ideologies.

Hersant and two other high-profile neo-Nazis were charged over the incident.

Similar booing occurred on Saturday morning at Sydney’s dawn service at the Martin Place Cenotaph, where some crowd members displayed rowdy behaviour during an Acknowledgment of Country by Uncle Ray Minniecon.

In Melbourne’s north and north-east, those gathering in solemn remembrance of the Anzacs were left distressed after offensive, anti-veteran rhetoric was graffitied on three RSL sub-branches.

Two women have been charged with offences including criminal damage, after police allegedly spotted them spray-painting a wall of the West Heidelberg RSL about 1.45am on Saturday.

The pair, aged 20 and 22, ran from the scene in opposite directions but were arrested after a short foot chase. They will appear before Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on May 19.

Graffiti including “kill the troops” and “f--- Anzacs” was sprayed in red paint on the walls of the Reservoir RSL overnight, before the commemorative service on Saturday morning.

Police believe the incident in Reservoir is linked to the graffiti in Heidelberg.

Reservoir RSL sub-branch secretary Anton Cabunilas said the “disgraceful” graffiti was intended to cause “hurt, division and distress to veterans” and their loved ones.

But instead, those who gathered for the dawn service were further united to ensure the spirit of Anzac Day lived on, he said.

“Those who commit such acts should remember they enjoy the freedoms of this country because generations of Australian service men and women answered the call to serve, often at great personal cost,” Cabunilas said.

Police said the Fawkner RSL was sprayed with similar graffiti, and the damage was discovered at 5am on Saturday.

Premier Jacinta Allan, who had earlier warned against booing, condemned the behaviour at the Shrine.

“Today we stand together united in that purpose of remembering the fallen, honouring their sacrifice. As well as those who came home and whose lives were changed forever,” she said.

“To break the stillness of dawn service is not just ugly behaviour towards our Aboriginal servicemen and women who defended this country – it disrespects everyone who fought for our freedoms.

“Politicising this sacred day is bastardry. I condemn it and so should every leader.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the interjections were a disgrace.

He said Welcome to Country was an “innately respectful act” and many Indigenous Australians had also fought for their country.

“It’s utterly appropriate that their particular contribution be recognised,” Marles, who is also the minister for defence, told Sky News.

“This is a moment where we can just show respect for each other, and I think the booing that we’ve seen there is a disgrace.”

Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said disturbing an Anzac Day service was an insult to Australia and its veterans.

“Whatever your views on a Welcome to Country, Anzac Day is our most sacred day,” he told Sky News.

“There are many other ways in a free country that you have an opportunity to express your views. The least you can do is stay away or not disrupt an Anzac Day service.”

RSL Victoria president Dr Mark Schroffel said those who booed at the service were not welcome.

“Those [who] did the wrong thing showed they are weak-minded individuals who do not belong at this service. We understand the disruptors left before the end of the service, showing complete disrespect to veterans,” he said.

“They were overwhelmed by the vast majority of the attendees who applauded and supported proceedings.”

New Zealand serviceman Steve Crawford sought out the Melbourne dawn service while on holidays, and called the booing behaviour “a shame”.

“I had never seen that before, and I really didn’t know what to make of it,” he said. “Everyone has their own opinions about things, but I thought it was a shame, really. It takes the shine away from what the day is about.”

Having served in East Timor, Bougainville and Afghanistan, Crawford said he made his way to an Anzac Day dawn service every year to commemorate those who came before him and those he had fought alongside.

“To come to a service of this size, and in Australia as well, it’s outstanding,” he said. “It’s pretty emotional to be a part of.”

Much of Saturday morning’s service was marked by respectful silence, as those gathered watched the sun rise over Melbourne.

Among her hand-knitted poppies and loved ones’ medals pinned on her lapels, Cherie Clark wore a sprig from a Bhutan Cypress tree, nestled in the shadow of the Shrine.

The tree is dedicated to the 2/14 Australian Infantry Battalion, of which her grandfather Walter Clark was a proud member. He was killed in battle along the Kokoda Trail in 1942.

Holding back tears, Clark said Melbourne’s dawn service was “just as moving” as ones she had attended in Gallipoli, at Hellfire Pass in Thailand and on the Western Front of France.

“I am so lucky to be the current custodian of lots of photos and memorabilia because it’s in our family’s tradition and history to serve,” she said.

Brothers and British army veterans Paul and Ian Andrews said attending Melbourne’s dawn service was “one of the best experiences” they’d had in their lives.

Together at the Shrine for the first time, Ian said it was heartening to see how the community had “come together” to support the Anzacs.

“Remembrance Sunday in England is not as popular as this is; support is waning … and I think it’s being taught far more in Australian schools,” he said.

“You see kids here that are knee-high and seem to understand, and for an old fogie like me, that’s what has made today extra special.”

Standing at the bottom of the Shrine’s steps, nine-year-old Elliot Londregan from Wagga Wagga beamed as she gazed up at her hero: her father, a soldier in the Australian Army.

To her, Anzac Day is about “respecting the people that fought for our country”.

“My dad means a lot to me, and him serving in the army is really special to me. I’m really proud of him,” Elliott said.

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