THE south-west is flying its monarchist colours by retaining God Save The Queen as part of the RSL's official Anzac Day program.
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The decision by Warrnambool, Hamilton and Portland branches of the Returned Services League flies in the face of the controversial decision this week by Melbourne-based RSL members to drop the British national anthem from its ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance this year.
It should come as no surprise given the south-west overwhelmingly voted to keep Queen Elizabeth II as Australia's head-of-state back in November 1999 with close to 65 per cent of voters rejecting the republic model.
RSL state president David McLachlan decided to omit the British national anthem from this year's Melbourne service after widespread consultation. But he allowed local RSL clubs to decide if they would continue with the tradition or follow the lead of the state service.
Mr McLachlan's decision has the support of the Anzac Day commemoration council and a meeting yesterday at Anzac House reaffirmed the RSL's new direction.
But Portland RSL president David Cleary said the royal anthem was part of Australia's wartime heritage and he would be disappointed if it was dropped.
He said support for retaining the song as part of the Anzac Day service was unanimous among Portland's veterans and other RSL members.
"I'm not a fully-fledged monarchist but you can not deny Australia's military history and its connection to the British Empire which went on to become the Commonwealth," Mr Cleary said.
“We will definitely be retaining God Save the Queen. We had a referendum about 10 years ago and the people decided to keep Queen Elizabeth as Queen of Australia and that democratic fact has to be respected,’’ Mr Cleary said.
“Most of the wars that Australians fought in, with the exception of Vietnam which was US-led, were under the belief of God, King and Country, from the Boer War, to World War I and II as well as Korea.”
Warrnambool RSL president John Miles said God Save the Queen would be played this year as it was at every Anzac Day service in the city.
He said veterans appreciated the royal anthem as it reflected Australia’s role in defending the Commonwealth during World War II.
“Advance Australia Fair and God Save the Queen will both be played at this year’s 11 o’clock service as they have always been,” Mr Miles said.
“Anzac Day is a time to acknowledge the sacrifice our veterans made and I think a lot of them would be very disappointed if the royal anthem was cut.”
RSL state chief executive Michael Annett said the move was an Anzac Day Commemorative Council decision but sub-branches had the right to play the royal anthem at services on April 25.
“If RSL sub-branches in the south-west want to keep the royal hymn that is entirely their decision as they operate their functions independently,” Mr Annett said.
God Save the Queen was Australia’s national anthem until 1974 when the Whitlam Government conducted a nationwide survey which resulted in Advance Australia Fair replacing the royal anthem.
The Fraser Government reinstated God Save the Queen until Advance Australia Fair was declared the winner of a 1977 referendum defeating the former anthem.
