ANZAC Day Hoo-Ha yet again . . .
Will it ever stop?
Should children, grandchildren, great-grand-children etc etc etc walk in the marches wearing their ancestor's medals and being applauded as they do so?
Differing views on involvement
What role should relatives of veterans play in Sydney's Anzac Day parades? Here, the two sides of the debate are put forward.
The case for less involvement
John Walsh, President, Ashfield RSL Sub-Branch
"First and foremost, the Anzac march is for veterans. There is a place for descendants but they need to march at the back of the Australian veterans.
"Up to the '70s, nobody but a veteran would have marched. However, because the Anzac Day march committee said about 11 or 12 years ago that a descendant could march in the place of a veteran, it has got out of hand. I seconded the motion at the time but now a lot of these descendants just won't listen. They feel they should be up the front.
"Last year there were 1000 WWII veterans marching and 7000 descendants. Now that tells you something is wrong.
The case for more involvement
Harry Whiteside, Secretary, Australian Special Air Service Association (NSW Branch)
"We've got widows, we've got children and grandchildren whose fathers have served and who are no longer with us and we basically feel that Anzac Day is about all these people.
"It's all very well to turn around and say, 'Well Anzac Day is all about the blokes who died'. But what did they die for? For all of our rights and privileges back here.
"From our point of view it's simple. Anzac Day is for everyone.
''The RSL takes the view there are too many descendants marching and all this sort of crap but at the end of the day one of the reasons there are more descendants marching than serving people is because the World War II people are dying off - like we all will eventually.
Anzac Day parade | Who should march?
