Remembering through a pandemic: Poppies eclipse COVID-19
A pandemic wasn't going to get in the way.
OK, it was limited to just 100 invited veterans and dignitaries and Martin Place was off-limits to the public. But as the statue of the soldier and the sailor on the Cenotaph were testament, COVID-19 wasn't going to prevent Sydney from remembering its "glorious dead".
Some 1000 poppies the size of dinner plates were placed in Martin Place to add to the occasion. They were recycled from the reopening of the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park in 2018 attended by Prince Harry and Meghan.
It was not your typical Remembrance Day at Martin Place this year on Wednesday.Credit:James Brickwood
NSW Governor Margaret Beazley arrived in the sunshine for the Remembrance Day service wearing a mask but she placed her wreath without one. Premier Gladys Berejiklian was sans mask as was Opposition Leader Jodi McKay.
Four veterans of the Second World War, which ended 75 years ago, were maskless but everyone sat on the white chairs neatly placed one and a half metres apart, or thereabouts.
Inevitably there were comparisons between losses in conflict and losses through pandemics. Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy did so in his reflection at the lectern. He said over the last 12 months many storm clouds had gathered including drought, bushfires, floods and pandemic.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian at the 2020 Remembrance Day memorial at Martin Place Cenotaph on Wednesday.Credit:James Brickwood
"The spirit of volunteers, firefighters, police, nurses, doctors, sailors, soldiers, aircrew men and women symbolise the spirit and the triumph of Australians over adversity," he said.
As ever, a bugler played The Last Post, the bell in the old Post Office clocktower (being refurbished) was manually chimed 11 times and we fell silent for one minute. Then the Reveille and more wreath laying.
The national anthem was sung by a soloist with the Royal Australian Navy Band. The order of service advised: "Because of COVID-19 restrictions guests are asked not to join in singing of the national anthem."
For similar reasons there wasn't much social engagement after the service. Everyone was about their business by 11.20am.
Acting Veterans' Minister Geoff Lee was happy with the effort. "It's a lot better than we did on Anzac Day at the height of the pandemic," he said.
Commenting on the projection of poppies onto the sails of the Opera House which was done in the morning and again in the evening, he added: "The red poppies on the white background, the bugler playing The Last Post and then the Reveille is, I think, a special moment."
RSL NSW acting president Ray James said his organisation had worked closely with the government. "To have a gathering like today and around the state coping with COVID-19 policy and processes was really great," he said. "The veterans would expect nothing less."
Perhaps the most poignant comparison between pandemics and the losses of World War One came before the service from Trish Skehan, author of The Front Line of the Pandemic speaking with MC Gareth McCray.
She told of a lichen-spotted headstone at the extensive Rookwood Cemetery. The grave contains the remains of 19-year-old Harriet Ann Ottaway, who died on July 2, 1919. The monument also commemorates her brother Henry James Ottaway who died of wounds in Belgium September 23, 1917, aged 21.
The text states: "While Henry was killed at the infamous Battle of Passchendaele, Harriet's headstone makes no mention of her own courageous combat with 'Spanish flu".
Everyone left Martin Place hoping next year would be different.
Tim Barlass is a Senior Writer for The Sydney Morning Herald