2021 Bendigo Anzac Day services get the go-ahead

Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch president Peter Swandale said new COVID-19 restrictions for low-risk events, allowing up to 5000 attendees, were a "game-changer."

A dawn service and a morning service will also proceed in Eaglehawk, and Mr Swandale believed plans for Kangaroo Flat were similar.

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The Soldiers Memorial Institute Military Museum, on Pall Mall, will be at the heart of the Anzac Day commemorations in the Bendigo CBD.

Mr Swandale said the Bendigo dawn service would be outside the museum this year, rather than at the cenotaph in Charing Cross, to contain all the services to one area.

The march would be smaller than in previous years, with participation limited to two groups of veterans and two accompanying bands.

Mr Swandale said a COVID-safe area would need to be established for veterans and invited guests during the services.

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Attendees will be required to check in using a QR code.

Pall Mall will be closed during the services.

Mr Swandale said people would also have the option of tuning into the city's Anzac Day commemorative events online.

"It's all about choice this year," he said.

Bendigo's dawn service is expected to start at the traditional hour of 6am, but it is not yet known what time the march and the morning service will start.

The association has little over a month left to organise the events.

"It's going to be a challenge," Mr Swandale said.

He believed the restriction settings could have been sorted out a lot earlier than they had been.

Plans for the city's largest Anzac Day services were uncertain earlier in the week.

Restrictions at the time would have capped attendees at 1000 people and the association would have been required to put up temporary fencing.

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A new, tier two low-risk COVID-safe event framework was introduced early this week. Mr Swandale said the same framework allowed for more spectators at the footy.

The Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch met with the City of Greater Bendigo yesterday and confirmed "it's all go now" for Anzac Day.

Mr Swandale believed public pressure had been a factor in the introduction of the new framework, with so many other events allowed to proceed.

He believed the community found restricting Anzac Day events in those circumstances "unacceptable".

"I think there will be a mix of people who wish to watch it online again," Mr Swandale said.

But he believed there would be a push from the community to attend the planned events in person.

COVID-19 restrictions meant last year's Anzac Day commemorations took place virtually, with people encouraged to light a candle from their front porch or driveway.

"The community did a great job last year," Mr Swandale said.

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