'God Save the Queen' dropped from Anzac Day service

[Alfacentori]

'God Save the Queen' dropped from Anzac Day service

The RSL says a decision to drop 'God Save the Queen' from Melbourne's Anzac Day dawn service was made after widespread consultation.
The decision has angered monarchist groups, who say it may offend veterans and their families.
David Flint from Australians for Constitutional Monarchy says the decision is disrespectful to Australia's wartime past.
"They certainly haven't done the right thing," he says.
"You don't just trample all over your traditions. You don't say, well, that's the past, and we're going to get rid of that, otherwise you start doing other things as well, which take away the whole point."
But the RSL's Victorian president, David McLachlan, says the decision was made based on feedback from veterans and young people alike.
He says after the dawn service every year, they ask a whole range of people what they think of the service.
"The question often comes up why do you have 'God Save the Queen'? It's not relevant and nobody knows it. So we've taken that into consideration." he said.
He said the decision has the support of the Anzac Day commemoration council.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/13/2871090.htm

Alfa

[Mu-Meson]

Not relevant? Is the Queen no longer the Head of State? Sounds pretty damn relevant to me. And the fact that kids don't know it is not a reason to drop it. It is a reason to have it!

[arvo10]

I think it is relevant to most of the veterans who fought - but in these days when more and more of those that turns up for the dawn service are of the younger generation, the question posed is not irrelevant. e.g my son respects the sacrifice made by those who has gone before us but he will not understand the context of fighting for the queen if asked to do so now.

But still, out of respect for the veterans, we should have left that tradition alone.

[LineDoggie]

Not relevant? Isnt her crown on the Campaign Awards given since 1953?

[Nepeccel]

She is their Head of State, if they don't want to have anything to do with her in state events then a vote for republic is the way to go. Until then, honour traditions and honour veterans who fought very bravely for the monarchy during the last century!

[Austra]

She is their Head of State, if they don't want to have anything to do with her in state events then a vote for republic is the way to go. Until then, honour traditions and honour veterans who fought very bravely for the monarchy during the last century!

Please do not start on that topic......

[Panchito12]

Wanna hear "God Save the Queen"? Well the vets should've stopped the whole ceremony and sang it!!

[Opening Batsman]

I don't think it's a big issue, I haven't heard it at any service I've ever been to.

[Kant]

At the Brisbane parade, in my memory, they used to play it because there are so many English veterans living in Brisbane.
Quite a few British Army units have representatives in the Anzac day parade, ex-Royal Marines/Royal Navy etc.
Could be because of that.
Anyway, a bit of a non-issue IMHO.

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

Much ado about nothing.

The empire is long dead, get over it.

[Bringer of Greater Things]

Australia has a queen?

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

Yeah, Min....

[digrar]

I've never heard it at any of the services I've attended. It's not the National Anthem and as far as I am aware there is no requirement to play God Save the Queen unless HRH is in attendance.

[BLUE THOR]

Dunno about now, but when I joined up we were given the option of swearing to serve Australia and her Majesty the Queen, or just Australia.
I believe the song was kept in the services because it was, for a while, sung in place of our national Anthem.

National Anthem

‘Advance Australia Fair’ is the national anthem of Australia. A revised version of a late nineteenth century patriotic song, it was officially declared the national anthem on 19 April 1984.
The composer

Peter Dodds McCormick, a Scot, composed ‘Advance Australia Fair’ under the pen-name ‘Amicus’ (amicus is the Latin word for ‘friend’). It was first performed in Sydney on Saint Andrew’s Day, 1878. An amended version was also sung by a choir of 10,000 at the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January, 1901. In 1907, the Australian Government awarded McCormick £100 for his composition. Peter McCormick died in 1916 and ‘Advance Australia Fair’ became free of copyright in 1966. The Commonwealth of Australia, however, does copyright the officially proclaimed lyrics and particular arrangements of music. Non-commercial public use of the anthem is permitted, but commercial use requires permission.
Some of the original words of the song have been changed for the official version. ‘Australia’s sons let us rejoice’ was the original first line; this has been replaced with ‘Australians all let us rejoice’. In the third verse of the original song, two lines were changed—‘To make our youthful Commonwealth’ became ‘To make this Commonwealth of ours’, and ‘For loyal sons beyond the seas’ became ‘For those who’ve come across the seas’.
How ‘Advance Australia Fair’ became the national anthem

The official anthem was ‘God Save the Queen’ (or ‘King’) from 1788 to 1974, although numerous commercial and official competitions were held over the years to find a substitute. The first was held in 1840.
John Dunmore Lang, who published an ‘Australian Anthem’ and an ‘Australian Hymn’ in 1826, was an early advocate of a distinctively Australian anthem. Carl Linger of South Australia wrote ‘The Song of Australia’ in 1860, and it was suggested to the Prime Minister in 1929 as a possible national anthem.
The issue of a truly national anthem was raised persistently before the 1956 Olympic Games, which were held in Melbourne. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and ‘Waltzing Matilda’ were the two songs most strongly favoured then as the new anthem. ‘Waltzing Matilda’ was composed in 1895, with lyrics by one of Australia’s best known poets, AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson.
On Australia Day, 26 January, in 1972, the number of entries (more than 400) received in an Australia-wide national anthem quest gave an indication of the interest in a new anthem.
Exactly a year later a government-sponsored competition was announced, which drew 2500 entries for the words and 1300 for the music. The judges selected six entries for the words, but rejected all the musical entries.
The polls and what followed

The quest for an Australian national anthem continued. In 1974 a public opinion poll sampled an estimated 60 000 people to select from three possible anthems: ‘Advance Australia Fair’, ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and ‘Song of Australia’. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ polled 51.4 per cent. Following this result the then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, announced that ‘Advance Australia Fair’ would be the national anthem, except on specifically Royal occasions, when both it and ‘God Save the Queen’ would be played.
In 1976, after a change of government, ‘God Save the Queen’ was reinstated for Royal, vice-regal, defence and loyal toast occasions, with ‘Advance Australia Fair’ to be played on all other official occasions.
In May 1977, however, a national poll was conducted to ascertain the public choice of a national song. This time more than seven million people were issued with ballot papers. The results were: ‘Advance Australia Fair’ 43.2 per cent, ‘Waltzing Matilda’ 28.3 per cent, ‘God Save the Queen’ 18.7 per cent and ‘Song of Australia’ 9.6 per cent. Despite the poll results, adoption of the new national anthem met widespread opposition.
It was not until April 1984 that the Governor-General issued a proclamation that ‘God Save the Queen’ was designated the Royal Anthem, to be played at public engagements in Australia attended by the members of the Royal family. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was finally declared to be the Australian national anthem.
Usually ‘God Save the Queen’ is played at the start of Royal functions and ‘Advance Australia Fair’ at the end, unless it is more appropriate to play both anthems at the start. ‘Advance Australia Fair’ is played at all other official functions.

From: http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/nat_anthem.html


So that covers all the blokes before the end of the Vietnam war.

[Opening Batsman]

Dunno about now, but when I joined up we were given the option of swearing to serve Australia and her Majesty the Queen, or just Australia.

Didn't have that option when I enlisted. Not that I'm worried, I would have gone for Queeny anyway. Swearing allegiance to a Queen is old school, made me feel like I was about to go around killing black knights and saving slutty princesses.

[Connaught Ranger]

'God Save the Queen' dropped from Anzac Day service

The RSL says a decision to drop 'God Save the Queen' from Melbourne's Anzac Day dawn service was made after widespread consultation.
The decision has angered monarchist groups, who say it may offend veterans and their families.
David Flint from Australians for Constitutional Monarchy says the decision is disrespectful to Australia's wartime past.
"They certainly haven't done the right thing," he says.
"You don't just trample all over your traditions. You don't say, well, that's the past, and we're going to get rid of that, otherwise you start doing other things as well, which take away the whole point."
But the RSL's Victorian president, David McLachlan, says the decision was made based on feedback from veterans and young people alike.
He says after the dawn service every year, they ask a whole range of people what they think of the service.
"The question often comes up why do you have 'God Save the Queen'? It's not relevant and nobody knows it. So we've taken that into consideration." he said.
He said the decision has the support of the Anzac Day commemoration council.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/13/2871090.htm

Alfa

Like most "young people" would know jack about tradition.:roll:

The men being remembered and comemorated were quite happy to serve for King / Queen and Country in their day.

Connaught Ranger.

[Austra]

Like most "young people" would know jack about tradition.:roll:

The men being remembered and comemorated were quite happy to serve for King / Queen and Country in their day.

Connaught Ranger.

We do not have the tradition passed onto us. I have picked it up from learning history and other such things but that's from my own curiosity, people my age (16) generally don't know and frankly don't care about our past. Kinda sad really when they take for granted all the great things we have here and don't care where it came from.

[oldsoak]

We do not have the tradition passed onto us. I have picked it up from learning history and other such things but that's from my own curiosity, people my age (16) generally don't know and frankly don't care about our past. Kinda sad really when they take for granted all the great things we have here and don't care where it came from.

- same over here mate. And HM the Q is our monarch !

[Alfacentori]

We do not have the tradition passed onto us. I have picked it up from learning history and other such things but that's from my own curiosity, people my age (16) generally don't know and frankly don't care about our past. Kinda sad really when they take for granted all the great things we have here and don't care where it came from.

Only going to get worse with the new PC school curriculum

Alfa

[Hando]

Unless my maths is out, Australia only has 2(?) surviving diggers who fought under the British Imperial Flag left. I say, let each local RSL branch make thier own decision on wether or not to play God Save the Queen with local input.

[Austra]

Only going to get worse with the new PC school curriculum

Alfa

The pc's arent used as much as one may think in most public schools. But yes i agree Aussie kids are a gery ignorant and arrogant breed which i witness everyday

[b0sco]

PC = Political Correctness.

[Alfacentori]

The pc's arent used as much as one may think in most public schools. But yes i agree Aussie kids are a gery ignorant and arrogant breed which i witness everyday

I actually mean't 'Politically Correct', one of my pet hates, but I get your point as well

Alfa

[JCR]

I mean it doesn't have any relevance except that the ANZAC corps fought for the King and the british empire?
Seriously I don't know much about Australian politics and traditions, but this seems rather stupid.
If they want to abandon the british anthem at normal state function that have to do with the present day Australia, ok...
But if it is about history and tradition it just makes no sense.

[Curtis E. Bear]

The pc's arent used as much as one may think in most public schools. But yes i agree Aussie kids are a gery ignorant and arrogant breed which i witness everyday

Oh lawd I lol'd. A 16 year old kid not knowing the meaning of the term PC (ignorance) and then has a go at his peers for not knowing enough history (arrogance), then accuses them of being ignorant and arrogant.

As far am I'm aware, Australia is still a constitutional monarchy and the Queen is our head of state, so why change it if the fundamental foundation of why it's played has not changed?

[BLUE THOR]

As far as relevence, Australia's national anthem was only changed from "God save the Queen" in 1974. So it was the national anthem of our servicemen up to the end of the Vietnam war. That may have something to do with it.
The DFAT website link is on the bottom of the first page.

Blue

[Niall]

As others have said the soldiers being commemorated fought for the Monarchy so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to drop it. If Australians don't want to be part of the monarchy then of course they don't have to sing it or be in the commonwealth (but come on there is more to the Commonwealth than beating the English at sport!). It seems disrespectful to stop the song for anzac day because young people who never fought for HRH don't like it.

[Austra]

As others have said the soldiers being commemorated fought for the Monarchy so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to drop it. If Australians don't want to be part of the monarchy then of course they don't have to sing it or be in the commonwealth (but come on there is more to the Commonwealth than beating the English at sport!). It seems disrespectful to stop the song for anzac day because young people who never fought for HRH don't like it.

I thought that we could become a republic and stay in the Commonwealth. Just something I heard at school.

[BLUE THOR]

As others have said the soldiers being commemorated fought for the Monarchy so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to drop it. If Australians don't want to be part of the monarchy then of course they don't have to sing it or be in the commonwealth (but come on there is more to the Commonwealth than beating the English at sport!). It seems disrespectful to stop the song for anzac day because young people who never fought for HRH don't like it.

I dont think it has anything to do with our being in the Commonwealth. The day isnt about the bloody youth who dont know the words to a song. Its about those who gave them the liberty to be ignorant of the sacrifices of others. I dont know the words either, but I have nothing against it. If those who remain want the song, I reckon they've earnt it.

[BLUE THOR]

When did I say anything about Australia's "historical military engagements"? I said our History, our average on the immigration test was an outstanding 53% Sooo yeah I do actually know more then them so that is not arrogance it is fact.


Yeah mate, look up the word generalise. Then get back to me.

Will the pair of you cut it out? move on.

[IronFinn]

I would much more prefer god to save my own ass than queens.

[Niall]

^^ Thats nice mate. Lucky Finland is a republic then isn't it.

[Kant]

I would much more prefer god to save my own ass than queens.

Ohh, a challenge!

[Austra]

I would much more prefer god to save my own ass than queens.

Love the flame bait...

[ex1cdo]

...people my age (16) generally don't know and frankly don't care about our past.

The sort of people who, when asked "What's worse, ignorance or apathy" would likely answer "I don't know and I don't care."

Oh well, it's much the same everywhere.

[IronFinn]

Just being humourous lads, chill down. :)

[Hando]

So first it's "RSL bans excessive family members from marching" and there was RAGE, then it's "RSL drops God Save the Queen" to forecast RAGE.

I'm starting to think that maybe the RSL told some certain news agencies to go F--K themselves with a large object recently.

[Opening Batsman]

Ahhh, thank goodness we dealt with this issue in 1776 :)

Yeah we're good thanks.

[Niall]

Ahhh, thank goodness we dealt with this issue in 1776 :)


Finnish flame bait and now the obligatory American flame bait.

[digrar]

Lighten up Francis.