Wodonga RSL sub branch's plans to hold an Anzac Day march this year have been dashed.
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Branch officials this week reluctantly aborted plans to stage a march at the Wodonga and District Turf Club's grounds when COVID-19 requirements made the event's return to its traditional route in central Wodonga impossible.
But an offer exists for the city's veterans to take part in the Albury march later this month.
"We simply couldn't guarantee compliance with government requirements," branch secretary Kate Chamberlain said.
"We couldn't find the amount of COVID marshalls required, the management of the ticketing system, QR codes.
"It just required more and more volunteers."
Under the latest requirements for the size of the event Wodonga was proposing the branch had to satisfy 13 requirements including one COVID marshall per 100 people and staff and volunteers needing to undertake training in PPE.
"We were really keen to do it," she said.
"Even though you didn't need to have your COVID plan approved by government, you still needed to have a COVID plan."
Victorian shadow minister for veterans affairs Tim Bull said the state government had failed to support RSL sub branches with easy to access information and a streamlined approval process for Anzac Day marches and ceremonies.
"If we can have 75,000 people at the MCG, surely the state government could provide an overarching approval for Anzac Day events, which for many is the most important day on the calendar as they remember loved ones and those from their communities who made the ultimate sacrifice," he said.
An invitation-only dawn and morning service at the Woodland Grove cenotaph will go ahead with a breakfast being held at the RSL club.
"None of the commemorative services are open to the public which is a real shame," Ms Chamberlain said.
"But I had been fearing this would happen from the outset.
"We just don't want to be responsible for an outbreak in the border area."
RSL sub branch members are still selling Anzac Day tokens at local supermarkets.
Albury RSL sub branch president Graham Docksey said veterans from across the border could be accommodated in its march.
"I don't think the numbers coming across will be large," he said.
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