Anzac Day Dawn Services should be more meaningful for all Australians instead of resembling Christian church services, non-religious veterans and pro-secular advocates have told staff of the Australian War Memorial.

The Rationalist Society of Australia and three non-religious veterans met with two representatives of the War Memorial on Wednesday to discuss the dominance of the annual Dawn Service by one religious tradition – Christianity.

Following the meeting, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman said the discussions were positive and constructive.

“The War Memorial’s representatives were very generous with their time and eager to listen to the views of the non-religious veterans in attendance,” he said.

“Our delegation made a compelling case on the need for change to the Dawn Service, sharing personal experiences of how the imposition of religion and acts of religious worship in the Dawn Service alienate many non-religious, ex-religious and non-Christian religious people, and put up barriers to them wanting to attend. 

“We impressed on the War Memorial the opportunity it has to host Dawn Services that are more meaningful to all Australians and that better reflect the religious and non-religious diversity of modern-day Australia.”

Mr Gladman told the War Memorial that religion was irrelevant to the lives of an increasing number of Australians – and, indeed, rejected by many.

He pointed to Melbourne’s Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance, which incorporates poetry, music, storytelling, and the reading of letters from the warfront, as an ideal example for the War Memorial to follow.

The delegation also emphasised the national significance of the War Memorial’s Dawn Service to all Australians, many of whom watch the live broadcast on television or online from every corner of the country and from around the globe.

While the commemoration is held on the grounds of the War Memorial in Canberra, the government institution says that it is the local branch of the Returned & Services League that is responsible for the content of the event. 

The RSA made recommendations to the War Memorial to pursue to help it get a better understanding of best practice and the views of veterans and currently serving personnel.

“We are grateful that the War Memorial has taken the time to listen to the views of non-religious Australians and we are hopeful that it will reflect on these views and consider them more deeply as part of its planning for next year’s Anzac Day,” said Mr Gladman.

“We are strongly encouraging other non-religious veterans and Australians to write to the War Memorial to encourage them to make this change.”

More than 1,000 people have signed the RSA’s online petition calling on the War Memorial to stop imposing Christianity in Dawn Services.

The Rationalist Society of Australia is actively lobbying and advocating for secular reform of the Defence Force and military commemorations. See the latest updates here.

If you want to support our work, please make a donation or become a member.

Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.