Price of freedom

By Casey Neill
THE future of Upwey’s historic Anzac Day march remains in danger amid bureaucratic blame-shifting.
This year’s Upwey-Belgrave RSL march was held illegally after Shire of Yarra Ranges asked the sub-branch to submit a traffic management plan for the first time in the event’s 90-year history.
This included seeking permission from VicRoads, Upwey traders, bus companies and the shire and could cost up to $1000.
The sub-branch refused to comply.
Several sub-branches raised the matter at last month’s RSL State Conference following similar experiences.
Upwey-Belgrave RSL secretary Terry Bull will meet with Victorian RSL Branch CEO Michael Annett later this month, and said Mr Annett would take the matter further.
He said the march was a memorial carried out on behalf of the community and the sub-branch was “not interested” in marching illegally again.
“But we are very much anti-having to make payment for the freedom to march,” he said.
“We might even decide not to march at all.”
Mr Annett said the Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans Affairs Tony Robinson was at the state conference and vowed to ask local councils to support the marches.
But Mr Bull said the traffic management plan was a requirement of the State Government’s Road Management Act 2004 and he believed local government was bound to follow the legislation.
“So we want clarification on that,” he said.
A State Government spokesman said Mr Robinson was “seeking information” from Upwey-Belgrave RSL, councils and other agencies involved “to progress the matter”.
“The Minister will remind all parties of the significance of Anzac Day and the valuable work undertaken by volunteers leading up to it, and encourage them to provide every assistance to RSL sub-branches in fulfilling any necessary regulatory requirements,” he said.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said the annual Anzac Day march in Upwey was an important opportunity to pay tribute to those who have served our country in war.
“We need a statewide resolution to this issue,” he said.
“It is a day of special significance that attracts huge crowds and it’s important that we ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff said the matter was a State Government issue and it was passing the buck.
“They do it with everything,” he said.
“This is a cop out. It’s bureaucracy gone mad.”
He urged the State Government to direct police to supervise and ensure safety at marches.
“They’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember,” he said.
“This is a special group of people. These are guys who fought for our country.”
Cr Cliff said he would not blame the RSL for not complying.
“I’ll stick by them,” he said.