BENDIGO residents have been asked to honour fallen soldiers in their own homes as Anzac Day takes place under restrictions on social gatherings.
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The Bendigo District Returned Soldiers League sub-branch has asked residents to stand in their driveway at 6am and play the Last Post and Advance Australia Fair, or light a candle.
President Peter Swandale will lay a wreath on the cenotaph alone, on behalf of all veterans and the community.
His speech will be sent out at 7am on the RSL's social media.
Mr Swandale said he encouraged people to watch the Dawn Service live-streamed from the Shrine of Remembrance.
He said it was sad to be unable to commemorate Anzac Day as normal, but it was something the RSL had to accept.
Ms Swandale said like all Australians RSLs had to find new ways of achieving the same outcome.
"The outcome is to acknowledge the sacrifices in our own personal way. To stop and remember," Mr Swandale said.
"The most important thing on Anzac Day for us as Australians [is] to stop, pause and remember.
"It gives us a chance to acknowledge the sacrifices of our current, service men and women ... and to acknowledge the sacrifice of those who paid the supreme sacrifice."
Mr Swandale said Australians were encouraged to share pictures on social media of themselves commemorating Anzac Day, using #stando or #lightupthedawn.
He said Australians could stand in their driveway, or balcony, with a candle or playing the Last Post or Advance Australia Fair.
Mr Swandale said it was unfortunate returned soldiers were unable to connect as they normally would on Anzac Day.
But he said the RSL was directly calling all veterans.
"We understand we need to play a major part in supporting our veterans, and we're reaching out ... to each veteran to ensure their health and safety is good," Mr Swandale said.
"That's the primary role of what we're doing is looking after the veterans and their welfare."
Find out more at: facebook.com/bendigorsl/ and facebook.com/shrineofremembrance/
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