Compromise bid for Anzac horses

A possible compromise has emerged in the row over a ban on horses in the Anzac centenary march in Albany.

Michael Ronaldson, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac, said this week that it might be possible to have horses stationed on the route but not taking part in the march.

Controversy erupted last month after it was revealed that horses and riders representing the Australian Light Horse Association would not be allowed to take part in the November 1 march during three days of commemorative events in Albany.

Bunbury 10th Light Horse Troop president Harry Ball had hoped 15 riders representing the 15 Australian light horse regiments of World War I and possibly some from New Zealand would take part.

But Maj-Gen. Dave Chalmers, chairman of the organising committee, said the event was not a re-enactment but a troop march which would be restricted to serving and former defence force members and cadets.

Also, with a crowd of up to 60,000 expected, the safety risks associated with allowing the horses to take part were unacceptable, he said.

Australian Light Horse Association national president Phil Chalker said at the time it was a disgrace that the home city of the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial would not have horses in the march.

Senator Ronaldson told ABC Radio this week that he had asked for the decision to be reviewed and the advice from the steering committee remained that it was too big a safety risk for horses to be part of the march.

But other options were being considered, including "a presence" of light horse at the corner of York and Serpentine streets, which was a point where the march would turn around. Mr Ball said yesterday that it was not ideal but it was something that could be considered.

Albany Returned and Services League president Peter Aspinall said that reluctantly he believed it could be an acceptable compromise.

But Albany MLA Peter Watson said people from all over Australia had expressed their disappointment that horses would not be in the march.

Most of the crowd would not be able to see the horses if they were just stationed at the intersection and he would continue to push to have the horses march.