'A bit tacky': New idea to honour Anzacs sparks fierce debate
There are mixed opinions about whether a company’s unusual way to pay respect to the Anzacs is touching or just plain trashy as struggling businesses turn to out-of-the-box ways to survive during the coronavirus pandemic.
Snap Ingleburn, a company in the Macarthur region in south-west Sydney, is selling large stickers with printed Anzac images on them for people to stick on their rubbish bin and display at the end of their driveway on Saturday.
The stickers are selling for $40, with the company pledging to donate $10 of that to the RSL DefenceCare, a non-profit organisation that supports veterans.
While some praised the move, others were more critical and labeled it “insensitive” after an advertisement was shared to a local Facebook group.
One person said it was “the weirdest thing I've ever seen” and several others were skeptical the bin stickers were actually respectful towards those who served and sacrificed for the country.
“Am I the only person that thinks [it’s] strange to honour our Anzacs by putting stickers on our garbage bins? It’s a bit tacky,” another person wrote.
Some complained the price was too steep and claimed they had seen cheaper advertised elsewhere, accusing the company of price gouging.
“Great idea. But do the stickers cost $30 to produce? Or is someone trying to make a sneaky profit as a guise of charity?” someone said.
Many were happy to pay the price however and pledged to order one to display on Anzac Day.
“Great idea. Regardless of some negative people I think it’s great some of the money is actually going to a worthy defence cause,” one wrote.
Geoff Tate, the president of the nearby City Of Liverpool RSL Sub-Branch, has purchased one of the stickers for himself to display on Anzac Day, telling Yahoo News Australia he thought it was “a very good idea”.
“The RSL can’t fundraise like they used to, so it’s a good way of getting some funds back into the RSL DefenceCare,” Mr Tate said.
To avoid the sticker being ruined over time its image being tarnished, Mr Tate said he planned to use double sided tape to attach it to his bin so he could remove it.
He disagreed with the people criticising the stickers, arguing they were “keeping the spirit alive”.
Rachel McCready from Snap Ingleburn told Yahoo News Australia the business created the stickers as an easy way for the community to participate in driveway ceremonies happening at dawn on Saturday.
“We were inspired by the innovative ideas that people are coming up with to still be able to show their respect for our Anzacs in this difficult time,” Ms McCready said.
“We are very much looking forward to making our donation to DefenceCare on Friday afternoon once the final tally of orders has been counted and dispatched.”
How will Anzac Day be commemorated across the country?
Australians across the country will be getting creative this year, as there will be no public memorials due to the coronavirus pandemic.
People have been encouraged to stand at the end of their driveways, on their balconies or in their lounge rooms at 6am on Saturday to commemorate servicemen and women.
In Queensland, RSL President Tony Ferris has called on people to “step out onto their driveways, verandahs or porches at 6am and pay their respects to diggers past and present”.
“To look out your driveway at 6am and see people lining the streets, still in social isolation, but remembering those that have gone and served this country will be something I don't think we'll see for a long time to come,” he said.
Indigenous artist Kim 'Brolga' Williams has been painting power poles outside the homes of veterans in Beaudesert, in the state’s southeast, to make sure they were aptly recognised for their service, ABC News reported.
The local RSL branch has helped fund paint and equipment to support Ms Williams, with her artwork designed to outlive the coronavirus pandemic and serve as a reminder of what the community endured.
Service to be broadcast nationwide
A national service from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra will be broadcast on television at 5.30am and will be followed by a televised service in NSW at 10am.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, RSL NSW acting president Ray James, a bugler and a vocalist will take part in the 30 minute service from Sydney's Anzac memorial in Hyde Park and the Cenotaph in Martin Place.
NSW acting Veterans Minister Geoff Lee urged people to stay home to keep the community and veterans safe.
“We can't have mass gatherings ... The elderly and many of our veterans are in our highest-risk category,” Mr Lee told reporters.
Mr James urged people to give any veterans they knew a call and check on their welfare.
Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday it was important that despite current restrictions, Australians still acknowledged and showed their appreciation to those who served the country.
“Unfortunately this year all of us have to do things differently. We can't turn up to the dawn service, we can't turn up to marches, we can't turn up to those regular things we do, but what we can do is still honour our servicemen and women, past and present,” she told reporters.
“We can still acknowledge those in our family who've served, and of course, support the RSL in their efforts in making sure everybody appreciates the significance of Anzac Day this year, although it will be done in different circumstances.”
with AAP
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