The Sub-Branch of the Returned Services League is threatening to boycott this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony should the Aboriginal flag fly at the Nyngan cenotaph.
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The Nyngan sub-branch of the Returned Services League (RSL) has advised the Bogan Shire Council it will not be participating in the council-run ceremony should the Aboriginal flag fly. Instead it would hold its own ceremony at the RSL Club.
Secretary of the sub-branch of the RSL, Peter Giddy said it had nothing against the Aboriginal flag, but the sub-branch had always maintained that throughout the wars in history all servicemen fought under the same flag.
“Our sub-branch members have no objection to the Indigenous flag flying at any other time. Our reason for objecting is that every member of the Australian Armed Forces is sworn in and fights under the Australian flag. This applies to Indigenous Australians and many immigrant recruits that hold dual citizenship,” he said.
“The tradition is that only the Australian flag should fly for these ceremonies with the exception of flying an ally’s national flag for an official guest.”
At its February meeting, the council resolved although it wouldn’t fly the Aboriginal flag at the Anzac services, it would fly it at the Remembrance Day services as this is a regular council day and all flags are flown.
Following this decision, the sub-branch of the RSL decided to boycott the ceremony and hold its own.
Mr Giddy said he hoped there would be some compromise from the Bogan Shire Council and the Local Aboriginal Lands Council before the November 11 service.
“If council and the Local Aboriginal Lands Council compromised we [the sub-branch of the RSL] wouldn’t have a problem. It’s not a big ask,” he said.
Mayor of the Bogan Shire Ray Donald said the council will be working with the sub-branch of the RSL to resolve the issue without boycotting the ceremony.
“A delegation from council will be approaching the Nyngan sub-branch of the RSL to request them to reconsider their decision to not participate in the traditional Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Cenotaph and hold their own ceremony at the RSL Club,” he said.
The sub-branch of the RSL will meet on July 9 to continue discussions about the boycott of the ceremony.
Grace Ryan
Deputy Editor at the Central Western Daily, Orange. You'll mostly find me tinkering in social media and newsletters. Working hard to get our stories in front of your eyes.
Deputy Editor at the Central Western Daily, Orange. You'll mostly find me tinkering in social media and newsletters. Working hard to get our stories in front of your eyes.
